Tag: Aaron Dykes

Vikings sign RB Aaron Dykes, waive K Jack Podlesny

The Vikings are still concerned with their running back depth and addressed it on Thursday morning

The Minnesota Vikings have unofficially crowned Greg Joseph the winner of the kicking competition as they released K Jack Podlesny and signed RB Aaron Dykes. The move was announced by the team on Thursday morning.

The Vikings brought in Dykes for a visit two weeks ago when they signed running back Abram Smith.

Dykes went undrafted this April out of Richmond but saw success for the Spiders at the FCS level. He ran for 777 yards and four touchdowns while also catching 29 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns in his final season.

Podlesny looked to be kicking well during practice, but a red flag was raised when he didn’t kick at all in the first preseason game. Joseph had a great game and earned the job.

The Dykes signing is for depth, as Kene Nwangwu still hasn’t returned to practice.

[lawrence-related id=81466,81491,81476,81465,81463]

Report: Vikings work out All-XFL RB Abram Smith, 2 others

The Minnesota Vikings brought in All-XFL RB Abram Smith along with RB Jacques Patrick and RB Aaron Dykes for a workout on Thursday.

Earlier on Thursday, KPRC2 Houston’s Aaron Wilson reported that the Minnesota Vikings worked out running back Jacques Patrick. Later on Thursday, Wilson reported that the Vikings also worked out running backs Abram Smith and Aaron Dykes.

Smith went undrafted in the 2022 NFL draft out of Baylor, but was the first overall pick in the XFL draft by the D.C. Defenders. They ended up finishing the regular season at 9-1 and lost in the XFL Championship Game. He rushed for 788 yards and seven touchdowns while earning All-XFL honors.

Dykes went undrafted this April out of Richmond but saw success for the Spiders at the FCS level. He ran for 777 yards and four touchdowns while also catching 29 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns in his final season.

This is likely a response to the tweak that Alexander Mattison suffered to his hamstring on Tuesday during practice.

[lawrence-related id=80847,80840,80842,80807,80812]