Aug 16, 2013; Orchard Park, NY, USA; A general view a Minnesota Vikings helmet during the second half against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Bills beat the Vikings 20-16. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports.
One day after the Minnesota Vikings drafted Christian Darrisaw in 2021, the Dallas Cowboys scooped cornerback Kelvin Joseph from Round 2.
His career didn’t pan out in Dallas and various spots, but now he’ll try on the Minnesota Vikings for size.
The Vikings’ main social media team tweeted Wednesday: “The Vikings have signed CB Kelvin Joseph to the practice squad.”
Cornerback Stephon Gilmore injured his hamstring on Sunday during Minnesota’s win over the Arizona Cardinals, so the Joseph addition is evidently an insurance policy. The Vikings also have rookie Dwight McGlothern and veteran Fabian Moreau ready for increased playing time if Gilmore can’t play this weekend.
These are the Vikings’ cornerbacks after the Joseph move:
Corners Mekhi Blackmon and NaJee Thompson remain on injured reserve.
Here’s Joseph’s NFL resume to date:
Joseph actually earned a Super Bowl ring with the Chiefs in 2023, though he didn’t physically play any games for Kansas City.
The 25-year-old hasn’t consistently played anywhere since 2022, and even then, Joseph did not start for the Cowboys. He’s appeared in 33 games since the start of 2021 while starting three. Joseph has logged 40 total tackles in his career and fired up a horrid 147.9 passer-rating-against in 2022 when he played 166 defensive snaps.
Onlookers shouldn’t perceive Joseph as a splashy defensive signing. Truth be told, the Kentucky alumnus will likely end up on special teams and obviously be available for emergency defensive situations if CB injuries mount.
He graded out at 71.2 per Pro Football Focus during his rookie campaign and tailed off to 49.2 in 2022.
The Vikings’ defense ranks first in the NFL per DVOA and second per EPA/Play through 13 weeks. The Detroit Lions lead Minnesota in EPA/Play and trail via DVOA.
Minnesota hosts the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday and is favored to win by 5.5 points. The game will feature Kirk Cousins’ first trip to U.S. Bank Stadium as a guest, and his team is desperate to correct its woeful tendencies after three consecutive losses.
Joseph is 6’1″ and 195 pounds.
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.