Vikings Reunite with Familiar WR

Dustin Baker |

Dec 4, 2023

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.

The Minnesota Vikings and wide receiver N’Keal Harry continued their on-again-off-again relationship on Monday, as the veteran wideout joined the club’s roster for a third time in the last four months.

Vikings Reunite with Familiar WR

The Vikings’ social media team tweeted, “WR N’Keal Harry has signed to the practice squad.”

Here’s the timeline of Harry’s topsy-turvy tenure in Minnesota:

Signed via free agency on August 6th.
Released on August 24th.
Signed to practice squad on September 4th.
Signed to active roster on October 11th.
Released on November 28th.
Signed to practice squad on December 4th.

Reunite with Familiar — David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports.

And with Harry’s rearrival to the roster, the Vikings WR corps looks like this:

Justin Jefferson
Jordan Addison
K.J. Osborn
Brandon Powell
Jalen Nailor
Trishton Jackson (PS)
Daylen Baldwin (PS)
Thayer Thomas (PS)
Lucky Jackson (PS)
N’Keal Harry (PS)

Any move involving Harry will always be noteworthy because of his draft stock. Four years ago, the Patriots spent a 1st-Round pick on the Arizona State alumnus, and hefty expectations always follow such picks. Harry is no different. But his reunion with the Vikings is unlikely to move the needle simply because his playing time will be minimal. There was a chance last month that Harry could’ve swung a spot on the active roster and then made an impact, but the Vikings said no thanks, cut him a couple of times, and now brought him back to the practice squad.

Vikings Release 2 — Minnesota Vikings wide receiver N’Keal Harry addressed the media from the TCO Performance Center during 2023 Training Camp. Harry joined the Vikings in August of 2023 and previously played for the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears. Harry joined the NFL in Round 1 of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Harry has tabulated 64 receptions for 714 yards and 5 scores in his four-year career, so he has some gameday experience. He hasn’t taken the NFL by storm since 2019, especially as a former 1st-Rounder, but he was more of a “big name” to land with the Vikings than most folks expected in the first place back in August.

Harry wasn’t targeted in the Vikings’ offense in 2023, playing 23 offensive snaps and 49 special teams plays. Some thought he’d earn a somewhat prominent role, perhaps as a WR4, when Jefferson hurt his hamstring, but that never materialized.

Prominent WR Unlikely — Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports.

The Vikings’ offense has hit a rut in recent weeks, dropping back-to-back games against the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears. Accordingly, the team has a quarterback mystery heading into Week 14, with Joshua Dobbs, Nick Mullens, and Jaren Hall contenders for the QB1 gig at the Las Vegas Raiders this weekend.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell will announce a decision soon, presumably later in the week.

Harry will turn 26 in two weeks.

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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.