Speedy Vikings Rookie Lands with Texans
The Minnesota Vikings revealed their 53-man roster last Tuesday, and once-promising speedster Silas Bolden did not make the cut.
One undrafted Vikings rookie wideout didn’t make the 53-man roster and has decided to try on the Texans for size, with the regular season just days away.
The University of Texas alumnus also failed to earn a practice squad assignment, thrusting the young wide receiver into free agency.
On Monday, the Houston Texans pounced. A home state reunion for the 23-year-old.
Texans Sign Vikings UDFA to PS
Bolden will be one step away from the gameday roster.
Silas Bolden Signs with Texans
Bolden had a week to ponder his next steps in the NFL before Houston took the plunge.
KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson wrote Monday, ‘The Texans are signing former University of Texas and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Silas Bolden to their practice squad, per a league source. Bolden, the younger brother of former NFL wide receiver Victor Bolden, signed with the Vikings as an undrafted rookie in the spring.”
“Bolden, 23, is one of Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud’s best friends. They grew up together in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., playing basketball and youth football together and then as teammates in high school. Bolden transferred to Texas from Oregon State. For the Longhorns, Bolden was the starting punt returner.”
Stroud brought one of his buddies aboard.
A Short UDFA Trial with Vikings
The Vikings signed Bolden in late April after the draft, and some had big plans for the speedster.
At 5’8 and 160 pounds, a handful of fans envisioned a special teams and gadget role for Bolden, though his training camp and the preseason showings never delivered too many results. But in June and early July, Bolden represented a deep sleeper on the Vikings’ depth chart.
Then, after the Vikings’ first preseason game, when punt returner Rondale Moore blew out his knee, the club had a wide-open punt returning need. The Bolden hype re-escalated.
In the end, Bolden didn’t do enough to secure that job or spot on the practice squad.
2025 Outlook
Bolden will live on the Texans’ practice squad and can be called up by Houston three times before it must sign him to the active roster or release him.
At Texas and Oregon State, Bolden totaled 1,343 receiving yards in 53 games, so while he’s not a prolific pass-catcher, he has some tricks in his tool bag.
His best-case scenario is a roster call-up or two, where the speedster electrifies with perhaps a punt return touchdown, so much so that sending him back to the practice squad and risking another team’s pilfer would be foolish. Otherwise, like many, Bolden will reside on the practice squad indefinitely.
The Texans’ Wide Receivers
With the Bolden addition, here’s Houston’s impressive WR corps, with six days before its first game at the Los Angeles Rams:
- Nico Collins
- Christian Kirk
- Jayden Higgins
- Xavier Hutchinson
- Jaylin Noel
- Justyn Watson
- Braxton Berrios
- Jared Wayne (PS)
- Josh Kelly (PS)
- Tank Dell (IR)
ESPN’s Mike Clay recently assigned the Texans’ WR group a ‘6’ score out of 10 in his preseason rankings.
More on Bolden
Our Kyle Joudry wrote about Bolden and his UDFA counterpart OT Logan Brown last week: “Being able to welcome offensive tackle Logan Brown and receiver/punt returner Silas Bolden to the Twin Cities wasn’t cheap. The high-priced Vikings UDFAs had plenty of promise.”
“Presumably, there was plenty of interest in signing them following the conclusion of the 2025 NFL Draft. Minnesota responded by guaranteeing $244,000 within Brown’s deal. Bolden saw $205,000 baked into his contract as guaranteed cash. Neither survived the opening round of roster cuts. Silas Bolden looked like he had a great shot to get onto the team, especially after Rondale Moore’s brutal injury.”
Bolden will turn 24 in November.
Joudry continued, “The issue? Mr. Myles Price, someone who has had an excellent offseason. Curious minds may be interested to note that Price earned precisely $0 in guaranteed cash to become a Viking. Both of Logan Brown and Silas Bolden are going to get opportunities in the NFL. They’re talented football players who didn’t breakthrough with the Vikings; that basic reality doesn’t mean there’s no good football ahead of them.”
“Each one has youth on their side. And, perhaps, each could even find their way back to Minnesota someday (stranger things have happened).”
Bolden logged a 4.38 forty-yard dash at his Pro Day in the spring.
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