The Vikings have added another body to the offensive line room, and this one comes with a little more intrigue than your usual late-summer depth move.
Minnesota signed interior lineman Joshua Gray on Tuesday as the team continues preparing for two days of joint practices with the Baltimore Ravens starting Wednesday. The timing matters because the Vikings are still sorting through questions up front, especially at center, where Kevin O’Connell is still looking for cleaner play.
On paper, this looks like the strongest offensive line O’Connell has had since taking over. But the interior still isn’t fully settled, and Gray gives the Vikings another option to sort through there.
Alec Lewis of The Athletic reported that Gray is being brought in as a center/guard. That fits the broader picture, even though Gray played guard exclusively in college at Oregon State and has remained on the interior at the pro level. He has spent time with the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers, but did not appear in a regular season game last year.
“The Vikings are signing C/G Joshua Gray, per sources. Adds more depth on the interior.
Most recently been with the Panthers. Was on the Falcons' PS last year.
Smaller frame but can really move off the ball.”
Gray’s college résumé is substantial. He started a school-record 56 games, including 44 straight from 2020-23.
As a redshirt senior in 2024, he played 916 snaps, more than anyone else on the Oregon State roster. He was penalized just once and earned a 74.1 grade from Pro Football Focus for that season, according to Lindsey Young of Vikings.com.
The move also adds another layer to Minnesota’s center situation, where Blake Brandel remains the starter for now. Brandel only moved to the position last year after concussions ended Ryan Kelly’s first and only season in Minnesota, leaving O’Connell without many alternatives.
Brandel held up well enough under the circumstances, but his lack of experience at center has shown up in camp, where he and new QB1 Kyler Murray have struggled at times with shotgun snaps.
“I wasn't at Vikings practice today, but this Blake Brandel snapping thing is starting to get concerning. The accuracy of his shotgun snaps has been an issue throughout camp.”
Gray and Brandel already know each other from their Oregon State days, when they played together in 2019.
To make room for Gray, the Vikings released defensive lineman Eric Johnson II. Minnesota also used a seventh-round pick on Cincinnati center Gavin Gerhardt in April, though he has not stood out much at camp.
After the joint practices with Baltimore, the Vikings will host the Ravens on Saturday in their only home preseason game of the year. Gray could get his first real chance to show what he can do then.
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