Former Vikings WR Latches onto Cardinals

Dustin Baker |

Nov 24, 2023

Vikings Trade — Jul 27, 2022; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals helmets sit on the field during training camp at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports.

One of the NFL’s fastest players is on the move, and he just so happened to live on the Minnesota Vikings practice squad recently.

Dan Chisena didn’t take long to find a new NFL team, dropped by the Vikings on Tuesday and added to the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad on Wednesday.

Former Vikings WR Latches onto Cardinals

KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweeted, “Cardinals sign Dan Chisena to practice squad.”

The Cardinals are 2-9 heading into Week 12, effectively eliminated from the postseason dance but just welcoming back quarterback Kyler Murray in recent weeks. Arizona will end up with a flashy draft pick, but it is unclear if the franchise will spend it on a quarterback like Caleb Williams or Drake Maye or retain Murray and his hefty contract in 2024 and beyond.

In any event, Chisena will live on the Cardinals roster indefinitely and becomes an injury or promotion away from the active roster.

Jul 27, 2023; Latrobe, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver wide receiver Dan Chisena (85) participates in drills during training camp at Saint Vincent College. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports.

Chisena, 26, joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in January, and his stay lasted about seven months. One of the fastest players on the Vikings since the start of 2020, Minnesota welcomed Chisena via undrafted free agency in April of 2020. The Penn State alumnus played in all 12 of the Nittany Lions games as a senior and caught three passes for 66 yards. With the Vikings, Chisena was renowned for special teams.

He returned to Minnesota this season on October 11th for practice squad duty, which ultimately lasted for about six weeks before this week’s move to Arizona.

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon introduced some of his staff members and fellow coaches at the Cardinals facility in Tempe on March 8, 2023. NFL Cardinals Offensive Assistant Coaches Introduction. © Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK.

In 2022 with Kevin O’Connell in charge, Chisena’s special teams role was clearly diminished, seeing action on just 24 plays early in the season in games against the Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders. After that activation from the practice squad, that was it for Chisena on the active roster.

The former Nittany Lion is known for speed, speed, and more speed, recording a 4.32 forty-yard dash during the buildup to the 2020 NFL Draft. He was teammates with Saquon Barkley, Mike Gesicki, Micah Parsons, and Miles Sanders at Penn State.

Chisena joined this WR corps in the desert:

Marquise Brown
Michael Wilson
Rondale Moore
Zach Pascal
Andre Baccellia
Greg Dortch
Daniel Arias (PS)
Kaden Davis (PS)
Dan Chisena (PS)

Nov 28, 2021; Santa Clara, California, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Dan Chisena (85) after the loss against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports.

Arizona employs one other former Viking, offensive lineman Pat Elflein, although Elflein is on injured reserve.

The Vikings play the Cardinals next in 2024 at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Minnesota signed wide receiver Daylen Baldwin for “Chisena’s spot” this week.

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Vikings Reportedly Have Interest in All-Pro Free Agent

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.