Vikings Try Out Player from 2022 Roster
Dustin Baker
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The Minnesota Vikings have two open roster spots available as of July 23rd, with the start of training camp this week.
Teams generally fill rosters to 90 men hoping to effectuate optimal competition from position to position, so there’s a reasonable chance two players are signed this week.
Vikings Try Out Player from 2022 Roster
Accordingly, the club worked out nine players last weekend, and one actually lived on the Vikings practice squad briefly in 2022 — offensive tackle Bobby Evans.
Evans was added to the roster late last season when Brian O’Neill injured his Achilles. He didn’t play for the Vikings but saw action in 12 Los Angeles Rams games in 2022.
The Vikings also worked out these eight players:
- OT Jack Snyder
- OG Travis Sinclair
- OG Rashaad Coward
- C Sean Harlow
- TE Sal Cannella
- TE Colin Thompson
- WR David Moore
- QB Reece Udinski
Selected in the 3rd Round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Rams, Evans arrived in the NFL from the University of Oklahoma and has played in 35 games while starting 12. He participated in the Rams 2021 Super Bowl triumph over the Cincinnati Bengals: four snaps in special teams action. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell offensively coordinated those Super Bowl-winning Rams.
To date, Evans has been a part of 878 career offensive snaps and played 314 snaps in 2022 with the Rams. The man is experienced, particularly as of late.
Here is Evans’ Pro Football Focus resume since entering the league:
2019 = 49.4
2020 = 60.0 (hardly played)
2021 = 48.2
2022 = 29.8
Had Evans qualified for PFF’s minimum snap count, he would’ve ranked as the worst offensive tackle in the league this season. His pass-blocking grade of 16.4 was especially head-scratching.
Minnesota currently has these offensive tackles under contract:
- Christian Darrisaw
- Brian O’Neill
- Oli Udoh
- Vederian Lowe
- Blake Brandel
- Sam Schlueter
- Jacky Chen
Although, per the roster on the team’s website, veteran Oli Udoh could be switching back to guard, a spot he played in 2021.
Evans was teammates with Mark Andrews, Baker Mayfield, Joe Mixon, and Kyler Murray at Oklahoma. He was also a member of Sooner teams with former Vikings Dru Samia and Dede Westbrook.
If signed, Evans is unlikely to make the 53-man roster at the end of August but could earn a practice squad designation like last year.
Evans turned 26 in March.
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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.
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