Vikings Summer Hero Gets Shot at Broncos Roster
A few Minnesota Vikings fans and analysts uplifted big plans for wide receiver Thayer Thomas in the summers of 2023, 2024, and 2025.
A Vikings summer hero is getting his chance at the Broncos’ roster, turning training camp buzz into another NFL opportunity, this time in DEN.
The North Carolina State alumnus somewhat surprisingly did not earn a spot on Minnesota’s 2025 practice squad, shoving him onto the open market last week.
But with any luck, Thomas will be a Denver Bronco by the end of the week. He fired up an audition this week.
Vikings Summer Standout Thayer Thomas Takes His Shot with the Broncos
Thomas, in summer speak, was beloved by a sect of purple fans.
WR Thayer Thomas Tries Out for Denver
Most NFL teams get their regular season underway in five days — sans the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys, who are two days away — and are evidently still interested in practice squad maintenance.
Proof? The Broncos worked out Thomas and others on Tuesday.
KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweeted, “The Broncos worked out Tyrion Davis-Price, Bryson Green, Messiah Swinson, Thayer Thomas, Samori Toure, Cole Turner, Deuce Vaughn.”
Denver will host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
Angling for a Practice Squad Spot
Thomas’ upside in Denver? A practice squad spot, at least to start the 2025 regular season.
Denver, like 31 other teams, locked in 53-man rosters one week ago, and most have published depth charts early on Monday or Tuesday. Thomas is in Denver with the six other combatants, hoping to gain a spot on the practice squad —a process he is ultra-familiar with from his time in Minnesota.
Thomas is known for his run-after-catch skill set, has 4.57 speed, and was used for deep-ball efficiency at North Carolina State.
Three Summers in Minnesota
Thomas lived on 90-man rosters in Minnesota for three straight summers. Pull up any random “sleeper” article from 2023, 2024, 2025, and there’s a decent chance Thomas’ name will show up as an under-the-radar 53-man roster contender.
Of course, Thomas never actualized the predictions into an active roster spot, and the widespread consensus suggests some always wanted the Vikings to find “another Adam Thielen.” Hence the Thomas hype.
Several fans were quite perplexed that Thomas didn’t make this year’s practice squad. It’s been quite the tradition in back-to-back seasons.
To date since 2023, the 6’0′ 195-pounder has never appeared in a regular season game. Maybe Denver will eventually be different.
The Broncos’ Current WRs
If Thomas finds quick employment with the Broncos, he’ll join this wide receiving corps:
- Courtland Sutton
- Marvin Mims Jr.
- Troy Franklin
- Pat Bryant
- Trent Sherfield
- A.T. Perry (PS)
- Michael Bandy (PS)
Sherfield, the team’s WR4 or WR5, spent the 2024 season in Minnesota, and the Vikings may get a compensatory draft pick in April due to his free-agent departure in March.
From Thomas Last Month
Thomas told reporters last month about the summer grind: “I don’t know when I’m gonna be thrown in there with the ones. But I just got to prepare each and every day like I am gonna be thrown in there, so when that time comes, I’m ready. Just know the playbook in and out, be able to play multiple spots on the offense.”
He also opined on quarterback J.J. McCarthy: “J.J.’s really talented. The growth I’ve seen in the last year and a half since he’s been here has been great to see. It’s awesome to be able to connect with him. I know he’s got elite receivers everywhere on the field; it’s pretty special. Hopefully, we get to connect a lot more. I sweat a lot.”
“Right now, it’s not too bad, but when I grew up in North Carolina, when I went to NC State, going to camp, it was like 95 degrees.”
Thomas isn’t incredibly young for a third-year wideout; he turned 27 this offseason.
Thomas added in August: “So, I would go through probably eight to 10 pairs of gloves a day, just cuz I was sweating so much. So, if we’re not in the live period, if we’re just doing routes, just indi and stuff, I won’t wear gloves. But as we get into the practice, I’ll put gloves on. I have like 10 pairs of gloves that I bring out to practice every day.”
Here’s to hoping for Thomas’ sake that the audition turns into a practice squad gig out in Denver.
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