Vikings Just Reopened An Edge Rusher Question Before Packers Week

The Vikings are bolstering their defensive depth for the season opener by re-signing promising pass rusher Kenny Dyson to the practice squad despite his recent injury challenges.

With the Vikings’ first regular-season game of 2026 just six days away, the roster churn is still happening in Minnesota. And with a division matchup against the Green Bay Packers on deck, the team is already moving pieces around while the depth chart gets settled.

On Monday, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reported that the Vikings are bringing back 25-year-old EDGE rusher Kenny Dyson to the 16-man practice squad.

The Vikings are adding edge rusher Kenny Dyson to the practice squad, per source. Really impressed the team late in the preseason. Has some major twitch to him.

  • Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) September 7, 2026

Dyson’s path to this point has already taken a few turns. He spent five seasons at Bryant University, where he piled up 17.5 sacks over his final two years, then entered the NFL in 2024 as an undrafted free agent with the Carolina Panthers. As a rookie, he appeared in two games and made two tackles.

His most recent production came in the UFL with the Houston Gamblers, where he logged 4.5 sacks and 27 tackles in 10 games during the 2026 season.

The Vikings got a look at him this preseason, too. The Stamford, CT native finished with two tackles, including one sack, but he was only able to appear in one full exhibition game, coming in Week 2. He did not play in Week 1 against the Giants and later suffered an injury in Denver in Week 3.

That undisclosed injury eventually led to Dyson being waived with an injury designation at the end of the preseason, and he was placed on injured reserve soon after.

The Vikings may have something in Kenny Dyson Jr. pic.twitter.com/UKEFfBF050

  • Tyler Forness (@TheRealForno) August 30, 2026

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Kick return duties could be the quickest way for Claiborne to get on the field, and that would fit the kind of multi-purpose value teams want from a late-round pick. The Vikings are still sorting out how he might fit into the offense as well, but special teams offers an immediate opening and a chance to turn his explosiveness into something more tangible while he waits for a bigger role in the backfield. [Read more 🡒]