Tag: Andre Mintze

The Vikings make first round of roster cuts

The Vikings trim the roster down to 85

Once the schedule changes were made to increase regular season games to 17, the preseason was also altered dropping from four to three games.

In turn, the way roster cuts were also modified. Instead of having two cutdown days, the league moved to three. Rosters go from 90 to 85 on the first one, 80 on the second one and the final 53 on the third and final cut.

On Tuesday, the Vikings made their first round of cuts, releasing five players with three separate designations.

None of these releases is a surprise, albeit Vargas going this early is interesting. Being the only backup fullback, does this mean that CJ Ham won’t factor into long-term plans as much as we might have thought?

11 personnel is going to be heavy on the menu this season and likely the next two weeks as well.

Vikings announce signing of OLB Andre Mintze

Another former Ed Donatell player is joining the Vikings

Another former Ed Donatell guy is coming to the Twin Cities.

The Minnesota Vikings officially announced the signing of former Denver Broncos outside linebacker Andre Mintze on Monday.

Mintze was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent and played under Donatell, the former defensive coordinator for the Broncos, in the 2021 season.

He totaled only two tackles and contributed on special teams, but it was never a situation where he got to truly spread his wings due to a hamstring injury forcing him to miss a significant chunk of the season.

Donatell has deep insight into his abilities and how he could potentially help the defense and/or special teams. Mintze, who was waived by the Broncos back in May, could benefit from a fresh start with the new-look Vikings.

At the very least, he’ll have a chance to compete and prove he belongs when the players return for training camp.

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Broncos cut 4 players to make room on roster for UDFAs signings

ICYMI: Broncos waived OLB Andre Mintze, CB Cortez Davis, OT Drew Himmelman and TE Shaun Beyer. Denver’s now at the 90-man offseason roster limit.

The Denver Broncos cut four players last week to make room on the 90-man offseason roster for their 13 undrafted free agents, the team announced.

The cuts started on Thursday with outside linebacker Andre Mintze, who joined the team as an undrafted free agent out of Vanderbilt last year. Denver has a crowded OLB room and Mintze apparently ranked near the bottom of the depth chart.

After that, the Broncos waived guard Zack Johnson, offensive tackle Drew Himmelman and tight end Shaun Beyer ahead of the start of their rookie minicamp last Friday. Following those moves, Denver’s roster now stands at the 90-man offseason limit.

Story update: Johnson was re-signed on Monday. To make room for Johnson, cornerback Cortez Davis was waived.

The Broncos also recently announced that they re-signed veteran tight end Eric Saubert to a one-year contract. Saubert (6-5, 253 pounds) played in all 17 games with Denver last year (four starts), serving primarily as a blocker (he caught eight passes for 47 yards). Saubert was also a key special teams player for the Broncos in 2021.

Following Saubert’s return, Denver has a somewhat crowded tight end room. Saubert joins Albert Okwuegbunam, Eric Tomlinson, third-round pick Greg Dulcich, Dylan Parham and Rodney Williams at the position.

The Broncos will begin trimming the roster from 90 players down to 53 in August, with a finalized 53-man roster announced in early September.

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Broncos now have 6 players on COVID-19 reserve

Broncos DL Mike Purcell, OLB Andre Mintze, DL Jonathan Harris, C Lloyd Cushenberry, ILB Barrington Wade and OT Drew Himmelman are in COVID-19 protocol.

The Denver Broncos added three more players to their COVID-19 reserve list on Monday, the team announced.

The Broncos placed defensive lineman Mike Purcell and outside linebacker Andre Mintze on the Reserve/COVID-19 list for active roster players and Denver also placed defensive end Jonathan Harris on the Practice Squad/COVID-19 list.

Purcell and Mintze joined center Lloyd Cushenberry on the active roster reserve list and Harris joined linebacker Barrington Wade and offensive tackle Drew Himmelman on the practice squad reserve list.

If the players are vaccinated, NFL rules would allow them to return in time for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers if they test negative.

The Broncos also released center Javon Patterson from the practice squad on Monday. Patterson was signed on Saturday to provide emergency depth at center after Cushenberry was placed in COVID-19 protocol.

The NFL has been hit hard by positive COVID cases in recent weeks. Denver specifically has had 19 players test positive since October.

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Broncos injuries: Lloyd Cushenberry placed on Reserve/COVID-19 list

The Broncos placed C Lloyd Cushenberry and OT Drew Himmelman on COVID reserve today. Denver also re-signed RB Damarea Crockett to the practice squad.

Denver Broncos center Lloyd Cushenberry has been placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, the team announced Thursday.

Cushenberry could be cleared in time for Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders if he has a negative test before then. If Cushenberry is not back in time for the game, Austin Schlottmann and Quinn Meinerz would be the candidates to start in his place, coach Vic Fangio said.

Denver’s complete injury report from Thursday and the team’s other COVID and injury-related moves can be seen below.