Former Vikings RB Recently Auditioned for Packers
The NFL’s preseason formally kicked off last Thursday at the annual Hall of Fame game, and the Cleveland Browns downed the New York Jets thanks to an impressive showing by rookie passer Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Former Vikings RB Recently Auditioned for Packers
The preseason busts out in full force this week, with every team in action, including the Minnesota Vikings, who travel to Seattle for an exhibition bout with the Seahawks Thursday night.
But before that, teams continue to tweak 90-man rosters as the ‘cut day’ deadline looms on August 29th. All teams must shrink from 90 players on the active roster to 53.
And amid that quest to finalize a regular season roster, the Green Bay Packers worked out a former Vikings running back on Sunday — A.J. Rose.
KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweeted over the weekend, “Packers worked out A.J. Rose and Jarrett Guarantano.”
Rose was last a part of the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes roster, employed by that franchise from February 13th or June 3rd of 2023. Here’s Rose’s (also known as Asim Rose) resume to date:
- Minnesota Vikings (2021–2022)
- Los Angeles Rams (2022)
- Montreal Alouettes (2023)
After departing the Vikings, Rose landed with the Los Angeles Rams for two months in the summer of 2022. He has yet to play in the regular season since joining the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2021.
Rose performed marvelously in the 2021 preseason for Minnesota, though, leading some fans to believe he could make an impact at some point in meaningful regular season action. And when the franchise drafted Ty Chandler from North Carolina in the 2022 NFL Draft, that all but sealed the deal on Rose’s Vikings fate.
Interestingly, the Vikings preseason offense in 2021 struggled so miserably that Rose was the only source of offensive points. Indeed, the Klint Kubiak-led offense floundered during exhibition games back then, and handing the ball to Rose was the only solace for production.
If Rose eventually lands a contract with the Packers, he’ll joust with these Green Bay RBs for a roster spot:
- Aaron Jones
- A.J. Dillion
- Patrick Taylor
- Tyler Goodson
- Lew Nichols
- Emanuel Wilson
- Nate McCrary
Green Bay ranked fifth leaguewide per rushing DVOA. The Vikings rival will set sail on a regular season this September without a Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers attached to the roster for the first time since 1991.
Rose will turn 26 in October.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.