The Vikings Got the Band Back Together
No new faces.
The Vikings Got the Band Back Together
That was the verdict from the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday, as the organization finalized a 2024 practice squad. Each player added to that section of the roster played for the Vikings this summer. Absolutely nobody new signed on the dotted line.
Heading into the regular season, which is 11 days away, Minnesota re-upped with these 17 players for the 2024 PS:
- Henry Byrd (OL)
- Andre Carter II (OLB)
- Dallas Gant (ILB)
- Myles Gaskin (RB)
- N’Keal Harry (TE)
- Lucky Jackson (WR)
- Jeshaun Jones (WR)
- DeWayne McBride (RB)
- Bobby McCain (S)
- Sammis Reyes (TE)
- Bo Richter (OLB)
- Tyrese Robinson (OL)
- Robert Tonyan (TE)
- Thayer Thomas (WR)
- Jonah Williams (DT)
- Jaylin Williams (CB)
- Nahshon Wright (CB)
Many fans expected the Vikings to explore the waiver wire for freshly released players, but such was not the case. The team got the band back together just one day removed from roster cuts.
Veterans like Gaskin, Harry, McCain, Tonyan. and Jonah Williams headlined the 17-man unit, as those four are relatively game-ready if Minnesota needs players on Sundays. Gaskin, by default, is the RB3 of the current bunch after the club said goodbye to Mohamed Ibrahim of Minnesota Golden Gophers fame on Monday. For now, Aaron Jones and Ty Chandler are the only two halfbacks on the 53-man roster.
Tonyan’s inclusion on the practice squad was noteworthy, too, as TE1 T.J. Hockenson will miss the start of the season with a torn ACL. If Tonyan’s back spasms heal in time, the Vikings could see his pass-catching talents in the middle of the field, as well as his redzone prowess.
Safety Bobby McCain, a veteran with oodles of NFL experience, is one call-up to the bright lights of the regular season. He won’t need much on-the-job training. Neither will defensive tackle Jonah Williams.
The NFL’s practice squads have truly transformed in the last five years. Before 2020 or so, they used to be training ground for “unknown” undrafted free agents but feel like a playground for savvy veterans these days.
Notable snubs from the practice squad? Duke Shelley (CB), Jaquelin Roy (DT), and James Lynch (DT).
This is the complete list of players released or waived since Monday not added to the practice squad:
- Lewis Cine (S)
- Matt Corral (QB)
- Jacobi Francis (CB)
- A.J. Green III (CB)
- Jason Hall (WR)
- Mohamed Ibrahim (RB)
- Neal Johnson (TE)
- James Lynch (DT)
- Tyler Manoa (DT)
- Kene Nwangwu (RB)
- Doug Nester (OL)
- Spencer Rolland (OL)
- Owen Porter (OLB)
- Jaquelin Roy (DT)
- Duke Shelley (CB)
Oddsmakers expect Minnesota to win six of seven games this season.
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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. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings 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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