Just Released Former Vikings WR Is Suddenly Available
The Denver Broncos conducted an under-the-radar roster move over the weekend that could have significance for the Minnesota Vikings. Trent Sherfield is available.
A recently released former Vikings wide receiver is back on the market, creating a possible special teams opportunity heading into the stretch run.
Sherfield played for the 2024 Vikings, let go at the start of the 2025 offseason, but based on the theoretical special teams fit, he could be an option for a midseason reunion in Minneapolis.
Broncos Drop WR Ex-Vikings Wideout Trent Sherfield
Minnesota has the option to sign him this week.
Denver Cut Ties with Sherfield
Sherfield’s time in Denver has ended, at least for a while.
BroncosWire‘s Jon Heath wrote Saturday, “The headliner among those moves was placing running back J.K. Dobbins on injured reserve with a foot injury that could end his season. Dobbins underwent surgery and could only return in a best-case scenario for a potential Super Bowl, should the Broncos advance that far. Overshadowed by the Dobbins news, it flew a bit under the radar that Denver also waived wide receiver Trent Sherfield.”
“Sherfield (6-1, 206 pounds) signed a two-year, $6 million contract with Denver this spring. The 29-year-old veteran was expected to serve as a key special teams player and rotational receiver this fall. Sherfield played 51% of the special teams snaps through the first 10 games of the season and he had a minor role on offense with three receptions for 21 yards.”
The former Viking lasted about eight months in Denver.
Back to Minnesota Would Make Sense
As recently as Sunday, Minnesota’s afternoon was undone by a special teams gaffe. After taking the lead on an unforeseen touchdown pass from J.J. McCarthy to Jordan Addison, the Vikings’ special teams had one job: don’t let the Bears’ kick returner get loose.
The Bears’ kick returner got loose.
The return set up a field goal from Cairo Santos, which he did not miss. Chicago won, sinking the purple team to 4-6.
In 2024, the Vikings employed Sherfield to prevent shenanigans like that. In theory, they could sign him this week and release Tavierre Thomas, a blunder merchant this season.
Sherfield’s Production in Denver
As a wide receiver, Sherfield caught 3 passes for 21 yards in Denver. Sean Payton and Co. trotted him on the field 163 times for offensive transactions. On special teams, he played 147 snaps.
Other wideouts, like Troy Franklin, have emerged in Denver as bonafide pass-catching options, rendering Sherfield expendable.
Minnesota may not need Sherfield as a wide receiver, but special teams is a different story.
Too Late to Make a Difference?
Of course, there’s the “what’s the difference?” angle. Minnesota has lost back-to-back games at home in the last two weeks, putting its playoff hopes on life support. To perhaps reach the postseason dance, the Vikings would have to finish 6-1. That doesn’t feel likely at McCarthy’s current rate of production.
In that vein, it may feel futile to sign new players, at least from an emotional perspective. Think of it this way: Would Sherfield really save Minnesota’s season? Unlikely.
The Big Special Teams Mistake
Regarding Minnesota’s special teams sin from Sunday, Daily Norseman‘s Christopher Gates opined, “The Vikings got a big conversion from McCarthy to Jordan Addison on 4th-and-4 right after the two-minute warning, and then they got into the red zone on completions to T.J. Hockenson and Jalen Nailor.”
“Then, with the game on the line, McCarthy dropped back to pass and found Jordan Addison in the front left corner of the end zone for a touchdown to tie the game at 16-16. Will Reichard then hit the extra point to put the Vikings back on top, 17-16, with fifty seconds left in regulation.”
That was the fun part; here’s the lousy.
“The Bears then got the huge kickoff return from Duvernay, who took the ball down to the Minnesota 40-yard line, nearly already in field goal range. The game came down to the right foot of Santos, who had a 49-yard field goal attempt with seconds remaining, and he put it just inside the left upright to give the Bears a come-from-behind victory,” Gates continued.
“The Minnesota offense simply wasn’t good enough for most of the afternoon in this one. The defense gave them plenty of opportunities, but until the final offensive possession, the Vikings didn’t really do much with them. They now fall to 4-6 on the season, and they face another tough one next week, as they will travel to Lambeau Field to face the Green Bay Packers.”
Sherfield will turn 30 in February.
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