Vikings Made 7 Roster Moves Last Week
The first week of Minnesota Vikings 2024 training camp is in the books, with the regular season now less than six weeks away.
Vikings Made 7 Roster Moves Last Week
Players like Jalen Nailor, J.J. McCarthy, Aaron Jones, and Will Reichard stood off the page early at camp, promising signals for the 2024 campaign.
Along the way, during the first week of training camp, Minnesota conducted seven roster moves. These are those.
1. TE T.J. Hockenson to the PUP List
As expected, Hockenson began training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, where he’ll live indefinitely.
“T.J. will begin training camp on the PUP list. He’s well ahead of schedule from a standpoint of some of the benchmarks on his rehab. T.J., looking back at the offseason program, did not miss really a day outside going to see his surgeon in Los Angeles,” head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters one week ago. “He was here every single day, and that continued through the summer.”
Hockenson won’t be rushed back, either. O’Connell added, “The significant injury that it was, we want to make sure to follow our plan to when T.J. gets on the field and continues to do more and more throughout training camp, and hopefully at some point when he’s ready to go we want to make sure everything is done the right way for T.J., because he’s such a significant part of our organization.”
2. CB NaJee Thompson on the PUP, Too
Thompson’s knee landed him on the summer PUP list, the team announced at the start of training camp. The young defender served as the Vikings’ primary special teams ace last year, a job he’ll undoubtedly eye again in 2024. During minicamp, some credible sources suggested Thompson had switched from cornerback to safety, though the Vikings’ website still lists Thompson as a corner.
The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis shed light on Thompson’s malady on July 22nd, “An unexpected PUP addition was defensive back NaJee Thompson, who started on special teams last year as a rookie,” Lewis wrote. “His absence, potentially for a considerable amount of time, leaves the special teams unit with less impact talent — especially given that some of the team’s other cornerbacks, like Akayleb Evans and Andrew Booth Jr., are not major contributors on special teams.”
This one was unforeseen, unlike Hockenson.
3. CB Duke Shelley Signed
Shelley became a Viking in September 2022 on the team’s practice squad, a cast-off from the Chicago Bears, leaving fans to wonder, “Who’s the guy with the cool name?” For a while, Shelley was “just a guy” signed to the practice squad who’d play if cornerback depth dwindled to slim pickings. Indeed, Shelley was needed because of injuries to Andrew Booth, Cameron Dantzler, and Akayleb Evans — and he absolutely thrived.
He followed his 2022 heroism by signing with the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency but was cut during 2023 roster trimdowns last August. Shelley found his way to the Los Angeles Rams, where he saw action on 76 defensive plays.
After injuries and tragedies this summer at cornerback for Minnesota, Shelley has a path to making an impact once again.
4. CB Jacobi Francis Signed
The Vikings lost the cornerback at the bottom of this list on Wednesday and evidently need depth reinforcements for the preseason and beyond. Francis has never taken a defensive snap in the NFL, though he played some special teams for the 2022 Houston Texans.
He’s 5’11”, about 195 pounds, and played college ball at Memphis. Francis was on the Texans’ practice squad in 2023 but was waived in October.
Unlikely to make Minnesota’s September roster, he’ll battle for a 53-man roster spot nevertheless and perhaps land on the practice squad.
5. LB Jabril Cox Signed
Cox was a baller in college, and if his name sounds familiar, it’s because he played most of his college career at North Dakota State — the Trey Lance squads.
The Dallas Cowboys chose Cox in Round 4 of the 2021 NFL Draft, and he played 26 games in Dallas, primarily as a special teamer. So far in the pros, Cox has notched 46 career defensive snaps.
With the aforementioned Thompson on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, Cox may be in the house for special teams depth.
6. LB K.J. Cloyd Released
To make room for Francis or Cox, someone had to become the odd man out, and that was Cloyd, an undrafted free-agent linebacker from the University of Miami.
Cloyd played 49 career games at Louisville and Miami before joining Minnesota’s summer roster three months ago. He might stick around the Vikings’ orbit, perhaps returning later this summer if another depth defender is needed.
7. CB Mekhi Blackmon to IR
Cornerback Mekhi Blackmon tore his ACL on the first day of on-the-field activities at training camp. He will miss all of 2024. Minnesota will have to shift, probably to a Plan C (after Khyree Jackson’s tragic death, as well), with free agency or the promotion of an unsung Viking who would otherwise play CB4 or CB5.
Free agents on the open market include Stephon Gilmore, Xavien Howard, and Adoree’ Jackson.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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