The Minnesota Vikings did not waste any time turning their initial 53-man roster into a moving target.
Less than a day after setting it, the team had already added offensive linemen Trevor Keegan and Nick Samac, waived Max Brosmer and Dillon Bell, then brought both players back on the practice squad. But the move that really changed the conversation was Harrison Smith’s return on a one-year deal. The veteran safety is back for Year 15, and the contract can climb from $12.25 million to $16.25 million with playoff incentives.
“Bringing back Harrison Smith bolsters that depth.”
That depth matters in a hurry. Jamal Adams is out for the year, Theo Jackson is dealing with a leg injury, and both Jakobe and Jacob Thomas are banged up.
That leaves the safety group thin, and Smith’s presence gives Minnesota something it badly needs: a veteran who can still help direct things late in the play clock. At 37, he remains the NFL’s active interceptions leader and is the only player in the secondary besides Josh Metellus who can audible out of coverages late in the play clock.
The Vikings also brought in another veteran defender, signing 35-year-old edge rusher Kyle Van Noy to the practice squad. Darren Campbell supported the addition, but also pointed out the timing could have been better.
“They got to add a veteran with some track record,” Darren argued, noting that Jadeveon Clowney, Von Miller, and other targets had already signed elsewhere while Minnesota waited.
There’s also a real question in the backfield, where the unofficial depth chart lists Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason as co-starters. Darren still sees Jones as the likelier 1A to open the season, and the reason is pretty straightforward: the Vikings trust him in the passing game and in protection.
“The receiving abilities and pass blocking - those are two things that Aaron Jones really has Kevin O’Connell and Wes Phillips’ trust.”
Mason did finish last season with 210 more rushing yards than Jones, but he was used much less as a receiver, catching only 14 passes.
The discussion on Two Old Bloggers also touched on J.J. McCarthy and his place in the story moving forward. As Nolan Teasley put it, “his story isn’t written yet.”
The show also took note of the new general manager’s blunt style in his first press conference and ESPN’s Top 100 list, which left out Andrew Van Ginkel and Brian O’Neill. Darren didn’t exactly hide his opinion on O’Neill.
“If Brian O’Neill was on the Dallas Cowboys, he’d be All-Pro every year,” Darren quipped.
The Vikings open the season against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium, and football is officially back. Two Old Bloggers will move to Saturdays starting next week.
In Other News...
Vikings Head Into Packers Opener With Two Massive Week 1 Questions
The Vikings are heading into their season opener against Green Bay with a very different look, beginning with Kyler Murray at quarterback and Harrison Smith back for a 15th NFL season after coming out of retirement to rejoin the club. On the other side of the ball, the roster has been reshaped by the trade of Jonathan Greenard, which leaves Dallas Turner in line to carry the load off the edge while rookies Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange are expected to mix in on the defensive line.
There is also a new wrinkle in the passing game with Jauan Jennings added as a physical third receiver, giving Minnesota another layer to sort out before a trip into one of the leagues oldest rivalries. The bigger question is how all of those changes hold up right away against the Packers, because the opener will offer an early look at whether the Vikings revamped pieces can settle in quickly enough to match the expectation around this team. [Read more 🡒]
Harrison Smiths Vikings Return Came With One Huge Catch
Harrison Smith is back for a fifteenth season in Minnesota, giving the Vikings one more year of experience and stability in the secondary from a player who has long been one of the franchises defining defensive presences. The deal keeps him in the building and adds another veteran layer to a roster that has leaned on his versatility and leadership for years.
There is a catch, though, and it speaks to how carefully the Vikings had to structure the return. Smiths contract is built around a modest signing bonus and base salary, with most of the money pushed into bonuses that depend on staying active and on team success in the postseason, a setup that makes this more than a simple reunion. His late availability and the fact that he was not part of training camp also shaped the path back, leaving Minnesota with the kind of short-term certainty it wanted, even if the arrangement tells its own story. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Edge Depth Just Got A Brian Flores Boost
The Vikings added a familiar face to their edge room this week, signing Kyle Van Noy to the practice squad with the expectation that hell be elevated to the active roster soon. It is the kind of move that speaks as much to Brian Flores influence as it does to Minnesotas need for more help up front, with Van Noy bringing a long track record of working in Flores system and enough versatility to fit a rotating role.
Van Noys production has tapered in recent years, but the Vikings are clearly betting on the traits that have kept him around the league: football IQ, positional flexibility and a comfort level that should help him get up to speed quickly. For a team looking to build reliable depth behind its current edge rushers, he fits as a low-drama insurance piece who could be useful in specific packages once he is officially moved onto the roster. [Read more 🡒]