Unsung Former Viking Signed with Buccaneers Last Week
The Minnesota Vikings conducted a busy offseason several months ago, and among the team’s plans, re-signing reserve offensive lineman Dan Feeney did not factor in.
Before Week 3 in the NFL, an ex-Vikings quietly signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after injuries hit Todd Bowles’ team rather hard.
So, Feeney sat on the free-agent wire for five months — until August, when the Buffalo Bills added him to the practice squad. Last week, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers came along and added him to their depth chart after a flurry of injuries, completing the steal from Buffalo’s practice squad.
The Buccaneers Called Upon a Former Vikings O-Lineman
Feeney could actually see playing time in Tampa Bay.
Dan Feeney to Buccaneers
Feeney is a Buc.
NBC Sports‘ Charean Williams wrote last week, “The Bucs, who are down three starters in their offensive line, are signing center/guard Dan Feeney off the Bills’ practice squad on Thursday, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Times reports.”
“In eight seasons, Feeney has started 65 of 120 games played but only three the past three seasons. The Bucs have not had left tackle Tristan Wirfs yet this season as he works his way back from July knee surgery. Luke Goedeke started Monday despite a foot injury, but he didn’t last long after aggravating his injury.”
His long wait is over, and Feeney has returned to an active roster.
Injuries Galore in Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay put offensive linemen Cody Mauch and Luke Goedeke on injured reserve last week, and left tackle Tristan Wirfs has not made his season debut in 2025, still dealing with an injury.
It’s an infirmary in Tampa Bay, so much so that Bowles’ team needs servicable bodies just to keep quarterback Baker Mayfield somewhat upright on Sundays. The offensive line injuries are particularly damning, as the Buccaneers, early in the season, look like a squad that can contend for an NFC Championship berth. Mayfield is playing that well, and he has weapons galore on offense.
But the offensive line will need to hold up when it matters the most.
The iOL Group in TB
Here’s the current interior offensive line situation in Tampa Bay with Feeney’s arrival:
- Cody Mauch (OG, IR)
- Eljiah Klein (LG)
- Ben Bredeson (C)
- Luke Haggard (RG)
- Dan Feeney (OG)
- Sua Opeta (OG, PS)
- Mike Jordan (OG, PS)
It’s worth noting that Feeney joined the Buccaneers’ active roster and did not have to endure a somewhat typical pit stop on the practice squad. He’s game-ready now.
The man can also play center in a pinch, probably why Tampa Bay took the plunge.
Feeney with the Vikings
Minnesota signed Fenney in the 2024 offseason as interior offensive line depth insurance behind Garrett Bradbury and Blake Brandel. He never took an offensive snap in Minnesota but did see the field for 40 special teams plays.
Then, during the 2025 offseason, Minnesota totally overhauled the guard and center positions, offloading Bradbury, Ed Ingram, and Dalton Risner, while signing high-profile free agents Will Fries (guard) and Ryan Kelly (center), and drafting Ohio State’s Donovan Jackson, a guard, in Round 1.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said goodbye to longstanding piecemealed iOL solutions, and Feeney, accordingly, was not a priority to re-sign.
SI.com on Feeney
Caleb Skinner of SI.com noted on the Buccaneers’ injury troubles and the Feeney move last week: “The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be 2-0 to start their 2025 season on a high note, but not everything is sunshine and rainbows in the Sunshine State as the team gears up for their first home game of the season.”
“The Buccaneers have run into a mountain of injuries as of late, and that doesn’t even include Tristan Wirfs and Chris Godwin rehabbing their way back from injuries suffered last season. Feeney was signed off the Buffalo Bills practice squad and will bring a ton of NFL experience with him to Tampa Bay.”
Feeney turned 31 back in March.
“In his eight years in the league, Feeney has started over half of the games he has seen action in, but hasn’t started a game since 2023 with the Chicago Bears, when he started one game. After being selected in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Chargers, Feeney would end up leaving LA following the 2020 season, spending a couple of seasons in New York with the Jets before seasons in Chicago and Minnesota with the Vikings,” Skinner added.
“It is unknown what kind of role Feeney will play for the Buccaneers once he arrives, but nonetheless, the Bucs can use all the bodies possible along the OL. They have put together makeshift lines since Week 1, and they will have to do so for the foreseeable future until Wirfs and Goedeke make it back to give them some semblance of their starting unit.”
Tampa Bay narrowly defeated the New York Jets in Week 3 by a score of 29-27. Feeney did not play in the contest.
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