Vikings Drop Rookie Linebacker
The Minnesota Vikings activated running back Aaron Jones from injured reserve on Thursday afternoon, just hours away from Thursday Night Football, and strangely, the club booted rookie linebacker Kobe King from the 53-man roster.
Out of nowhere, the Minnesota Vikings oddly cut ties with a rookie linebacker, although the man will likely reenter the roster orbit very soon.
King can still be re-signed to the practice squad, but the roster move assuredly turned heads.
Vikings LB Kobe King the Odd Man Out amid Roster Maintenance
A temporary stunner?
Aaron Jones In; Kobe King Out for Vikings
The good news? Jones is back. The weird news? King is out, at least for now.
Vikings.com‘s Craig Peters wrote Thursday, “The Vikings on Thursday activated running back Aaron Jones, Sr., from Injured Reserve a few hours before visiting the Los Angeles Chargers to open Week 8 on Thursday Night Football. To make room on the roster, the Vikings waived rookie linebacker Kobe King, who has played 77 snaps on special teams and three snaps on defense across five games.”
“Jones, a nine-year NFL veteran, had been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 2 against the Falcons. His 21-day evaluation window was opened by the team on Tuesday, but the Vikings did not hold a full practice this week because of the shortened schedule.”
Most expected an undrafted rookie like Chaz Chambliss or Elijah Williams to be the odd man out with Jones’ return; general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah threw a curveball with King.
King Is a 6th-Round Pick — 7 Months Ago
The Vikings didn’t have too many draft picks in April, mainly because of an expensive trade that netted outside linebacker Dallas Turner in 2024. So when the purple team stepped up to the podium in Green Bay, every selection mattered.
However, as several undrafted free agents made the team in late August, King’s importance was evidently reduced, and he became a roster casualty in October.
Rather than cut one of these men — all undrafted rookies from 2025 on the active roster — Adofo-Mensah temporarily removed King from the depth chart:
- Tyler Batty (OLB)
- Max Brosmer (QB)
- Chaz Chambliss (OLB)
- Joe Huber (OG)
- Austin Keys (LB)
- Myles Price (WR)
- Ben Yurosek (TE)
- Elijah Williams (DT)
Those eight rookies apparently outweigh the upside for King, at least for a few days.
Practice Squad Reunion Incoming?
Listen, King is probably already on his way back to the Vikings’ practice squad — and may not leave the facility at all.
Our Kyle Joudry tweeted Thursday, “Would expect Kobe King to be added to the PS. He has looked slower than Austin Keys, a UDFA LB.”
NFL teams do this frequently with roster tweaks — cut a guy one day and add him back a day or so later. It’s just that the system is rare among recently drafted rookies.
Vikings LBs Sans King
Without King, Minnesota’s off-ball linebacker corps looks a wee bit different. Here’s the group after the King subtraction:
- Blake Cashman
- Eric Wilson
- Ivan Pace Jr.
- Austin Keys
- Sione Takitaki (Practice Squad)
Keys is basically the “King replacement,” as Keys played more impressively during training camp and the preseason.
Takitaki also has some veteran juice if Minnesota were to get hard-up for additional inside linebackers.
Ted Schwerzler on the King Move
Our Ted Schwerzler opined Thursday, “King was a 6th round pick for the Vikings in April, and he had appeared in five games for Minnesota this season. With just three snaps on defense, King’s more substantial exposure happened on special teams.”
“It’s possible that King clears waivers and lands back with the Vikings on the practice squad. Guard Henry Byrd has been elevated to the active roster for Thursday Night Football. That may be an ominous addition to the roster with a level of uncertainty surrounding left tackle Christian Darrisaw.”
A section of the Vikings’ fan base doesn’t like undrafted free agents and subsequently used the King release to further criticise Adofo-Mensah’s drafting habits.
Schwerzler added, “Aaron Jones returns to the lineup with 13 carries and 47 yards to his credit thus far this season. He played in just the first two games of the season, and will pair with Jordan Mason in the backfield. Kevin O’Connell can utilize the tandem, and their different skillsets, to keep the Chargers off balance. Minnesota must grab a victory if they want to stay above .500 through the first eight weeks of the season.”
“This is the toughest part of the Vikings schedule, and Kevin O’Connell needs his team to keep showing up on a weekly basis if they are going to keep playoff hopes alive.”
King will turn 23 in January.
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