Vikings fans waiting for trade deadline fireworks got a very different kind of update Wednesday.
Instead of a splashy addition, Minnesota signed offensive lineman Corey Robinson II after a workout, a move first reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz and later confirmed by the team. It came a day after the Vikings cut backup guard Trevor Keegan, which only added to the confusion around what the team is trying to do with the deadline closing in.
Robinson is still largely an unknown at the NFL level. He entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas and signed with the Bengals after the draft in April.
At Arkansas, he started 12 games at left tackle in 2025. Whether Minnesota sees him as a tackle or someone who can help inside is unclear, but the timing made the move stand out all the more.
That’s because the Vikings had already lost their only true backup guard when Keegan was released Tuesday. There was some thought he could return to the practice squad, but ESPN’s Mike Garafolo reported Wednesday that the Buccaneers claimed him off waivers.
The Vikings may still make more corresponding moves, but this one, on its own, doesn’t look like the kind of roster jolt fans were expecting.
And the concern is obvious. Left guard Joe Huber is already filling in for an injured Donovan Jackson, while Will Fries has been shaky at right guard to open 2026.
If either spot takes another hit, Minnesota could be forced to improvise. Bringing in an undrafted rookie tackle with no NFL experience doesn’t exactly scream stability.
That’s why the reaction around the move was so muted. The Vikings are 6-1, own the NFC’s second seed and have an all-world defense.
Under different circumstances, this might be the moment for a major swing. But the cap and roster picture make that a lot more complicated, even if plenty of fans still want the team to go all in with so many key veterans potentially not back after this season.
For now, though, the big headline was a backup offensive lineman, not the blockbuster many were hoping for. With the Nov. 10 deadline coming fast, the wait for real news goes on.
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Vikings History Still Turns On One Franchise Defining In-Season Trade
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Marshall went on to become one of the most durable and respected players in franchise history, setting an NFL record for consecutive games played and serving as a longtime captain. His number is retired by the Vikings, a reminder that some trades are remembered less for the moment they happened than for the standard they helped establish. [Read more 🡒]