Vikings Sign New Playmaker

Dustin Baker |

May 13, 2024

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Sammis Reyes (19) looks at his gear after walking the field after the third and final day of a mandatory minicamp Monday, June 12, 2023 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla. © Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK.

Last year, it was Junior Aho, a defensive lineman from France.

Vikings Sign New Playmaker

This go-round, Sammis Reyes will become a Minnesota Viking via the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP) program. He’s a tight end, and Minnesota made it official on Monday.

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Sammis Reyes (19) stiff catches a pass as tight ends coach Richard Angulo looks on during the first day of a mandatory minicamp Monday, June 12, 2023, at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla. This is the first of a three-day camp June 12-14. © Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK. –

The team’s main social media account tweeted, “The Vikings have signed TE Sammis Reyes. Reyes is joining the team through the International Player Pathway (IPP) program and does not count against the 90-player offseason roster limit.”

Reyes is 28 and has been attached to the NFL since 2021. Here’s his resume to date:

Washington Football Team (2021)
Chicago Bears (2022)
Jacksonville Jaguars (2023)
Minnesota Vikings (2024–present)

The Chilean has a basketball background foremost, playing for Chile’s national team in the 2010s. He also played college basketball at Tulane and Loyola-New Orleans. Reyes switched to football in 2020 and began his NFL journey the following year with Commanders.

The 6-foot-5, 260-pounder has experienced NFL action in 11 games, all with the Commanders in 2021, starting one contest and playing 145 total special teams snaps, with 39 on offense. To date, Reyes has not been targeted with a single pass on offense. We shall see if that changes with the Vikings.

These are the Vikings tight end at the moment:

T.J. Hockenson
Josh Oliver
Johnny Mundt
Nick Muse
Trey Knox
Sammis Reyes

Vikings.com’s Craig Peters recapped Reyes’ career resume in more detail: “Reyes spent 2022 on the Bears practice squad and signed with the Jaguars in May 2023 before initially retiring last August. He decided to come back and has another opportunity after impressing Vikings coaches last weekend. The path to football for Reyes began on the basketball court. He attended Hawaii and Palm Beach State Junior College before transferring to Tulane for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. He joined the Chilean National Team in September of 2017 for training in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as the squad participated in 2019 China World Cup qualifying.”

Fans will keep a close on Reyes and Minnesota TE room, on the whole, because the aforementioned Hockenson likely won’t be ready for the start of the regular season. Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph injured Hockenson last December with a hit to the knees, casting his availability for September into doubt. Joseph also injured Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee with a similar tackle two weeks later.

Minnesota will need someone — probably Josh Oliver — to step up in Hockenson’s absence if the Pro Bowl tight end visits the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list in September.

Reyes can now be added to the mix as a possible option. He’ll turn 29 in October.

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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.