Category: Roster moves

The Vikings elevate a former starting quarterback to the active roster

The Vikings have made a change to their quarterback room ahead of Monday’s game against the Rams.

There is a shake-up in the Minnesota Vikings quarterback room ahead of Monday’s wild card game against the Los Angeles Rams.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, Daniel Jones has been signed to the Vikings’ active roster. The Vikings waived QB Brett Rypien in a corresponding move to open up the roster spot. Jones will likely serve as the emergency third quarterback on the Vikings’ gameday roster behind Sam Darnold and Nick Mullens.

This is a move that has been expected for weeks. Jones was signed to the Vikings’ practice squad shortly after being released by the Giants on Nov. 22. There was speculation that signing Jones would help the Vikings get a compensatory pick in 2026.

Jones had to be signed to the active roster to be part of the compensatory pick formula. If he leaves via free agency this spring, he will count towards any potential compensatory pick the Vikings would get in 2026.

It was a low-risk move for both the Vikings and Jones. As a former top-10 pick, he helps strengthen the quarterback room. And because Darnold and Mullens have had success under Kevin O’Connell, there wouldn’t be pressure to thrust Jones into the starting lineup if he wasn’t ready.

For Jones, joining the Vikings allowed him to sit back and be coached by one of the league’s best coaches. He could have signed with a QB-needy team, played and failed, and hurt future opportunities around the league.

Instead, he followed what Darnold did in 2023. After a disastrous start to his career, Darnold signed with the 49ers, who have a strong offensive coaching staff. He sat on the bench behind Brock Purdy and learned how to be a professional quarterback. Whether he stays in Minnesota or elsewhere, Darnold’s career trajectory has changed going into 2025.

Jones has taken the first step in altering his quarterback journey. Meanwhile, the Vikings can help their future draft capital while also strengthening their QB room and future draft capital.

Peter Schrager shares thoughts on Vikings’ brewing QB controversy

Good Morning Football NFL analyst Peter Schrager thinks the Minnesota Vikings should bring back quarterback Sam Darnold for another season.

When the 2024 NFL season started, no one expected the Minnesota Vikings to be sitting at 13-2, with a chance to take home the NFC North title and the #1 seed in the NFC playoff picture with two weeks left. No one anticipated the Vikings being one of the best teams in the league, and they certainly didn’t expect Sam Darnold to be a driving force behind that charge.

Darnold, to this point in his career, had been a first-round bust and a journeyman, spending the last few seasons as a backup. If anything, Darnold was brought in to be a bridge to the rookie first-round pick, J.J. McCarthy — and a likely underwhelming bridge, at that.

But that’s not how things have played out. In fact, they’ve played out almost as differently from expectations as possible, which could leave the Vikings in an awkward situation come this year’s free agency period. Darnold has played well enough to have many questioning whether or not the Vikings should delay the transition to McCarthy for another season.

However, doing so would involve a heavy investment on the Vikings’ part. One they may not be willing to make. But should they be? At least one NFL analyst seems to think so. On a recent appearance on Good Morning Football, NFL analyst Peter Schrager voiced his opinion on what could be a potential quarterback controversy brewing in Minneapolis, saying:

“If I’m the Vikings, I’m either signing him (Darnold) and saying to J.J. McCarthy ‘sorry dude, it is what it is. You’re gonna be in an Aaron Rodgers/Jordan Love situation for the next couple years, or I’m gonna franchise tag Darnold and say ‘Let’s run it back and let’s let McCarthy get a year of being healthy and watching from him.”

If the Vikings are going to bring Darnold back, that second option may be the most likely. Either way — whether through free agency or the franchise tag — Darnold will see a significant pay increase next season over the 1-year/$10 million deal he signed with the Vikings prior to this season.

If Minnesota gives Darnold the franchise tag, it will only tie them together for another season, as opposed to making a long-term commitment with another quarterback waiting in the wings. It also gives the Vikings the option to trade Darnold should another team be willing to part with the NFL Draft capital it takes to acquire a player who has been tagged.

No matter how it plays out, if the Vikings are able to win their final two games of the season, lock up the NFC North and the #1 seed, and make a run in the playoffs, the team will have a choice to make in the offseason. One that many other teams would do almost anything to have to make.

Analyst lays out way for Vikings to keep Sam Darnold in 2025

Could the Minnesota Vikings place the franchise tag on Sam Darnold to keep him for 2025? At least one NFL analyst believes it’s possible.

Before the 2024 NFL season started, it seemed inevitable that, though the Minnesota Vikings had signed quarterback Sam Darnold in free agency, the team would eventually hand over the reins to rookie first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy. No one knew exactly when that would happen, but it was all but inevitable that it would.

However, that handoff may be much further down the road than anyone could have expected, thanks not only to McCarthy’s preseason knee injury but also the amount of success the Vikings have had this season under Darnold.

Minnesota is currently sitting at 12-2, riding a 7-game win-streak, and in control of their own destiny in both the NFC North and the overall playoff picture in the NFC. If the Vikings win out, they’ll secure the top overall seed in the NFC and the coveted first-round bye.

All of that has many asking the question: Is it enough to bring Darnold back next season, hitting the pause button on McCarthy’s career for another season? According to one NFL analyst, it’s within the realm of possibility — but it won’t come without a hefty price.

According to Sports Illustrated’s NFL insider Albert Breer, it’s not crazy to think that the Vikings would be interested in bringing back Darnold for another season, giving McCarthy “a second redshirt year.” Breer likens it to the Los Angeles (San Diego at the time) Chargers in 2005 when they placed the franchise tag on Drew Brees to keep him around for another season after drafting his heir apparent, Philip Rivers.

If Minnesota wants to keep Darnold around, they, too, would have to use the franchise tag on Darnold. That tag would cost the Vikings north of $40 million. Minnesota has the cap space next season to do that, but will they be willing to pony up that kind of money for a guy who many thought was only a short-term answer and not a factor in the team’s long-term plans?

Anything is possible, and the next few weeks will likely go a long way towards determining just how plausible the scenario becomes.

Could the Vikings land a former Pro Bowler before the playoffs?

With the Miami Dolphins all but out of the playoffs, could Calais Campbell be on his way to the Minnesota Vikings for the stretch run?

The Minnesota Vikings are currently sitting at 12-2 and tied with the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions atop the NFC standings. That makes Minnesota’s final three games the most pivotal of the season. If the Vikings win, they’ll not only take home the NFC North crown but will be the top seed in the NFC, earning them a first-round bye.

Minnesota doesn’t play Philadelphia, but thanks to tie-breakers, they have the advantage over them. The Vikings do play the Lions to end the season, and the winner of that game could determine whether Minnesota walks away with the #1 seed, or falls all the way to the #5. Some help could be on the way for the Vikings in the form of a former Pro Bowler.

The Miami Dolphins’ loss last week against the Houston Texans all but eliminated them from playoff contention in the AFC. There is still a slim chance, but they would need a lot to go right. With that impending elimination comes the idea that Miami could be parting with defensive tackle/end Calais Campbell.

According to Miami Herald reporter Barry Jackson, the Dolphins could opt to release Campbell once they are officially eliminated from contention in an effort to allow him to sign with a contender and chase a Super Bowl trophy that has eluded him throughout his illustrious 17-year career.

The Vikings have the cap space to make such a move, and doing so would strengthen an already great defense. Campbell could come in and immediately join a rotation at defensive tackle, giving the Vikings even more pass-rush prowess.

Over 14 games with the Dolphins this season, Campbell has notched 43 tackles and four sacks, adding nine quarterback hits in his age-38 season. He’s also provided the Dolphins with a forced fumble and has knocked down five passes.

Adding Campbell’s production to the likes of Harrison Phillips and their EDGE rushers Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard could put the Vikings over the top down the stretch.

Saints sign former LSU star, ex-Chiefs first-round draft pick

The New Orleans Saints signed former LSU star Clyde Edwards-Helaire. The ex-Chiefs first-round draft pick arrives after an injury to Alvin Kamara:


The New Orleans Saints have made a move at the running back position, after Alvin Kamara’s groin injury. The team signed former LSU star Clyde Edwards-Helaire, adding depth to the running back room, announcing that defensive tackle Kendall Vickers was let go from the practice squad to make room.

Edwards-Helaire started his career with the Kansas City Chiefs as the 32nd overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. In his first season with the team, he got off to a hot start totaling 1,100 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns in 13 games. In the following year, Edwards-Helaire still proved to be productive in scoring six touchdowns in ten games but his yardage numbers would dip down a bit.

With the emergence of Isiah Pacheco in 2022, Edwards-Helaire saw his opportunities lessen significantly as a result and there would be more of the same in 2023. This season however, he would spend the majority on the NFI list as he’s battled with post-traumatic stress disorder.

At only 25 years old though, Edwards-Helaire likely has a lot of tread left on the tires and could provide some decent depth behind what will likely be Kendre Miller and Jamaal Williams on Monday night in Green Bay. It will be interesting to see if he’ll fit in as a spell back potentially with Kamara possibly out this week.

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Saints sign veteran quarterback after Derek Carr injury

The New Orleans Saints signed veteran quarterback Ben DiNucci after Derek Carr’s injury, rounding out the depth chart for practice this week:

The New Orleans Saints have signed veteran quarterback Ben DiNucci after an injury to Derek Carr, DiNucci announced on social media. A seventh-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys back in 2020, he started one game in his rookie year and has since spent time with the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills, as well as the XFL’s Seattle Sea Dragons.

Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi characterized Carr’s injury as a “week to week” concern, but this development would suggest he’s unlikely to practice this week. Adding DiNucci to the rotation should keep drills moving on schedule with three able-bodied quarterbacks.

Still, we should expect either Spencer Rattler or Jake Haener to get the starting nod for Sunday’s game with the Washington Commanders.

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Vikings sign veteran offensive lineman to practice squad

The Vikings signed Coy Cronk to their practice squad and placed Henry Byrd on the practice squad-injured in a corresponding move.  

The Minnesota Vikings have rotated players in the backup positions of guard and center. On Friday, they made another shakeup of players at those positions.

The Minnesota Vikings signed Coy Cronk to their practice squad and placed Henry Byrd on the practice squad-injured in a corresponding move.

Cronk, who is 26, entered the league in 2021 after going undrafted out of Iowa. He initially signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he would make his way to the Minnesota Vikings last November. He never played a game for the Vikings, but he was listed as the backup left tackle behind Christian Darrisaw.

He played in three games in his career with the Jaguars despite never playing with the Vikings. During his tenures with both teams, he bounced back and forth between the active roster and the practice squad.

Cronk was with the Vikings earlier in the year but was released in April ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft with a non-injury designation.

Former New Orleans Saints starter waived by Miami Dolphins

A former New Orleans Saints safety has been waived by the Miami Dolphins to make way for a player returning from injury

Former New Orleans Saints safety Marcus Maye has been waived by the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday after they got rookie DB Patrick McMorris back off of the injured reserve. Maye’s career trajectory has been on a pretty strong downturn ever since he signed a three-year deal with the Saints.

In 2022 he looked solid but not great for New Orleans and was a good veteran presence to have. However in 2023, he was suspended for three games due to his violation of the substance abuse policy, and was also placed on injured reserve further into the season which forced him to only play seven total games.

He was then released by the Saints a year before his contract ended, and he wound up signing with the Miami Dolphins where he has only started three games but played in 11 total. He was only given 43% of defensive snaps and 39% of special teams snaps with the Dolphins before this move, and the intent for Miami is to get him back on the practice squad if he clears waivers, as Tom Pelissero mentioned. We will see where he winds up, but ultimately not a good sign for the 31-year old veteran.

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Vikings place linebacker on IR, sign veteran replacement

The team announced that Ivan Pace Jr. suffered a hamstring injury on Sunday and is being placed on Injured Reserve.

The Minnesota Vikings defense has been relatively healthy in 2024. On Sunday against the Bears, however, it suffered its first major injury.

The team announced that Ivan Pace Jr. suffered a hamstring injury on Sunday and is being placed on Injured Reserve. He will miss the next four games for the team and in a corresponding move the team removed rookie edge rusher Gabriel Murphy from injured reserve.

While Murphy gives Brian Flores another edge piece, the team is signing a veteran linebacker to replace Pace Jr. on the roster. The team is signing Jamin Davis to the 53-man roster after playing five games for the Washington Commanders in 2024.

Davis has played in 50 career games for the Commanders and totaled 282 tackles and seven sacks in those games. Davis also boasts career PFF grades of 67.5 in run defense, 69.4 in tackling, and 56.9 in pass coverage assignments.

Davis and Murphy are expected to be available to play in Week 13 against the Arizona Cardinals.

Recently-cut Saints center already reunites with his old team

The Saints waived Erik McCoy’s replacement Connor McGovern when the starter returned from injury, but McGovern is already back with his old team:

Some New Orleans Saints fans questioned the decision to waive Connor McGovern, and this development makes those concerns look warranted. McGovern emerged as the best candidate to replace Erik McCoy at center when the Pro Bowler missed a month-plus with a groin injury — but when McCoy returned from injured reserve, the Saints let McGovern go. And the next day he returned to the New York Jets, who claimed him off of waivers.

Remember, the Saints cut second-year wide receiver A.T. Perry to make room for McGovern in the first place, having signed him off the Jets practice squad. Moving on from that proven veteran at this point felt a little premature, and that only looked worse when McCoy exited his first game back after aggravating that groin injury. Fortunately, he’s expected to be fine when players return from their time off during the bye week.

Still — unless this was a case of McGovern asking for his release, you have to wonder if he was the best option to let go. He’s been better in the middle than other players on the roster like Shane Lemieux or Landon Young. There are guys at other positions who aren’t contributing much on Sundays. But the Saints clearly felt this was their best path forward. Let’s just hope it doesn’t come back to haunt them.

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