Aug 31, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Washington Redskins corner back Fabian Moreau (31) prior to the game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports.
Minnesota Vikings roster moves have occurred like greased lightning as of late.
The club kicked off training camp slightly over a week ago, and a new player either hits the shelf, joins the team, or exits the franchise daily.
So, as a running tally, starting with the most recent, these are the Vikings’ 10 roster moves of the last eight days.
NFL Network‘s Mike Garafolo tweeted Tuesday, “The Vikings are signing veteran CB Fabian Moreau, source says. Moreau played in 16 games for the Broncos last season with 11 starts, recording one interception and seven passes defensed. Former third-round pick of the Commanders heads into his eighth NFL season.”
More cornerback depth for Minnesota, Moreau will compete for a roster spot in September — and might have a leg up on the rest because his 106-game career resume and versatility on the outside of the defense and in the slot.
McCain is no stranger to playing time, appearing in 131 games since 2015 while starting 87. He crossed paths with the aforementioned Flores in Miami in 2019 and 2020 — the unmistakable connection drawing McCain to Minnesota for 2024.
He can play safety and cornerback and might have sights set on the nickel cornerback spot, especially after another promising Viking fell injured (No. 4 on this list).
Romo tweeted this on Monday:
The Vikings formally dropped Romo a few hours later, and rookie kicker Will Reichard won the brief battle.
Cornerback Mekhi Blackmon tore his ACL on the first day of on-the-field activities at training camp. He will miss the entire 2024 season. His injury was the major catalyst for the acquisitions of McCain and Moreau.
Blackmon produced an ultra-promising rookie campaign in 2023, fetching a 71.8 Pro Football Focus grade. It’s criminal that he’ll miss all of Year No. 2.
To make room for Jabril Cox (No. 6 on this list), 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 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.
Cox was a stud in college, and if his name sounds familiar, it’s because he played most of his college career at North Dakota State.
The Dallas Cowboys chose Cox in Round 4 of the 2021 NFL Draft, and he played 26 games there, primarily as a special teamer. So far in the pros, Cox has notched just 46 career defensive snaps.
Cox may be in the house for special teams depth.
The Vikings lost Blackmon last 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 maybe land on the practice squad.
Shelley became a Viking in September 2022 on the team’s practice squad, a cast-off from the Chicago Bears. Within two months, he was the best cornerback on the Vikings’ 2022 roster.
He followed his 2022 heroism by joining the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency but was cut during 2023 roster trimdowns last August. Shelley signed with the Los Angeles Rams thereafter, 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 in 2024. He just has to make the September roster, suddenly a crowded house at his position.
The team announced at the start of training camp that Thompson’s knee had landed him on the summer PUP list. The young defender served as the Vikings’ primary special teams ace last year, a job he’ll undoubtedly eye again in 2024.
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.”
His timetable to return is up in the air.
This one was expected. Hockenson began training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, where he’ll reside 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 hurried back, either. O’Connell also said, “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.”
This is all thanks to a dirty hit by Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph seven months ago.
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.