The Vikings kept busy Tuesday afternoon, and the latest wave of roster moves brought a new name into the backfield mix.
Minnesota announced a series of transactions that included Max Brosmer being added to the active roster, a move that effectively fills the spot left by traded quarterback J.J. McCarthy on game days as the inactive third quarterback. The team also released running backs Jaret Patterson and Jerome Ford from the practice squad, along with defensive lineman Jonathan Harris.
Johnny Hekker’s contract was terminated as well, a move that points toward Brett Thorson being on track to play Sunday against Miami after sitting out Week 2 in Tampa Bay with a hamstring issue. The Vikings did not make a one-for-one flurry of practice squad additions to match those exits, though they did sign linebacker Kenny Dyson.
There was also a notable change at tight end. Josh Oliver is headed to injured reserve after surgery to repair a torn biceps, and the injury could end his season.
That leaves Minnesota a little thin behind T.J. Hockenson and Gavin Bartholomew, with Cam Grandy a possible practice squad elevation if the team needs more depth.
Edge defender Kyle Van Noy was officially moved onto the active roster after exhausting his three practice squad elevations. The 13th-year veteran out of BYU has been one of the early bright spots for the Vikings.
The move that wasn’t in the team’s announcement but was reported by Jordan Schultz was the signing of former Saints running back Devin Neal.
Neal entered the league last year as a sixth-round pick and was viewed as a potential Alvin Kamara replacement. He appeared in 10 games for New Orleans, carrying the ball 57 times for 206 yards and two touchdowns while also catching 17 passes on 19 targets for 104 yards.
At Kansas, Neal showed the kind of all-around skill set that made him appealing in the first place. He ran for 1,000 yards in three straight seasons from 2022-24 and added at least 20 receptions in each of those years.
His time with the Saints ended earlier this month when he was waived off injured reserve in an injury settlement, four days after being placed on IR with the injury.
With Jordan Mason on injured reserve, Aaron Jones Sr. banged up and averaging just 3.9 yards per carry, and Demond Claiborne still early in his rookie season, Minnesota’s interest in backfield help makes sense. Neal now enters the mix and will compete with DeeJay Dallas for reps in a Vikings backfield that suddenly looks pretty thin.
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