Vikings Promote TE
One man is in, and another is out.
Vikings Promote TE
The Minnesota Vikings promoted tight end Robert Tonyan to the active roster on Thursday, three days before a London showdown with the New York Jets, while releasing RB3 Myles Gaskin.
The Vikings’ main social media account tweeted, “The Vikings have signed TE Robert Tonyan to the active roster and released RB Myles Gaskin.”
Gaskin will find the exit sign, but most onlookers assume Minnesota will promptly re-sign him to the practice squad. That move should be on the way in the next day or two.
For Tonyan, here’s where he nestles in the TE room:
- T.J. Hockenson (PUP)
- Josh Oliver
- Johnny Mundt
- Robert Tonyan
- Nick Muse (IR)
- N’Keal Harry (Practice Squad)
- Sammis Reyes (Practice Squad)
Tonyan has played 23 special teams snaps and 10 on offense so far in 2024, and Minnesota ran out of PS elevations for the 30-year-old. A player can only be called up from the practice squad thrice before needing to join the 53-man roster.
The veteran tight end was hampered by back spasms during the summer, canceling his preseason participation and allowing fellow TEs like Johnny Mundt and Nick Muse to surpass him on the depth chart. The Vikings even released him amid roster trimdowns in late August but swiftly added him to the PS.
Tonyan encountered a quiet season with the Chicago Bears in 2023, receiving just 17 targets in 17 games while banking 11 receptions for 112 yards. Before 2023, Tonyan spent five seasons in Green Bay, with 1,437 yards on 148 catches for 17 touchdowns in 68 games as a Packer. At times, he was one of Aaron Rodgers’ favorite targets.
He is the most recent in a long list of Packers defectors to join the Vikings in the last few years, including Bashaud Breeland, Chandon Sullivan, Za’Darius Smith, Dean Lowry, Aaron Jones — and Tonyan.
Quarterback Sam Darnold has spread the ball around wonderfully in four games to start the season, meaning Tonyan could receive some attention in the offensive gameplan on Sunday against the Jets. In particular, he thrives in the redzone, so keep an eye on Tonyan when Minnesota ventures inside the 20.
Tonyan has played for every NFC North team — the Packers, Lions, Bears, and Vikings — and only NFC North teams in his NFL career. The man should get an NFC North logo as a tattoo when he retires.
The Vikings are favored to take down the Jets by two or three points this Sunday.
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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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