Dolphins swap practice squad CBs on Monday

Miami has brought back a CB that they just released.

The Miami Dolphins have made several moves this season, as they’ve had injuries all over the place.

Last week, Miami released cornerback Parry Nickerson to make room for Jalen Ramsey, who was returning from injured reserve.

Now, on Monday, the Dolphins have re-signed Nickerson to their practice squad after he went unclaimed on waivers.

Nickerson had been playing a significant depth role for Miami before he was released, playing 24% of their defensive snaps.

To make room for him on the practice squad, the Dolphins have released Mark Milton, who joined the team earlier this month but hadn’t received any elevations since arriving in South Florida.

 

Vikings elevate CB Parry Nickerson from practice squad for Saturday’s game

The Vikings will have extra help at the cornerback position on Saturday

The Minnesota Vikings have had some issues with injuries at the cornerback position and they have done their due diligence to address it.

After signing cornerback Kalon Barnes to the active roster on Wednesday, the Vikings also elevated cornerback Parry Nickerson to the active roster for Saturday’s game versus the Indianapolis Colts.

Nickerson has been on the Vikings practice squad since November 15th and was with the Vikings in 2021. He played four games with the Vikings in 2021 and this will be his first game in 2022 on Saturday.

What questions this raises is that Cameron Dantzler, who is questionable on the injury report with an illness, could be out on Saturday afternoon.

Vikings host 6 players, sign CB Parry Nickerson to practice squad

The Vikings brought in six players for a tryout

After signing CB Duke Shelley to the active roster on Saturday and the Raiders signing tight end Jacob Hollister before the game against the Buffalo Bills, there were two open spots on the practice squad.

The Vikings filled one of those with veteran tight end James O’Shaughnessy and signed CB Parry Nickerson to the practice squad on Tuesday. The Vikings also hosted five others on Tuesday before signing Nickerson.

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We wrote about the Vikings hosting tight end Alize Mack earlier on Tuesday and the Vikings also hosted an old friend in Julian Taylor who was a part of the Vikings’ cuts during training camp.

They also looked at edge rusher Curtis Weaver, defensive tackle Sheldon Day and cornerback Darren Evans.

With all the players that the Vikings brought in for a tryout, it is curious that they chose not to bring in any kickers despite Greg Joseph struggling.

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Vikings add TE Hollister to practice squad: release CB Nickerson

The Vikings make a change to the practice squad on Tuesday

The Minnesota Vikings have made a roster move by signing tight end Jacob Hollister to the practice squad.

The sixth-year tight end has played for three teams in his NFL career. In that time, he has played in 57 games with 12 starts. Known most for his time in Seattle when he ended up staring after a bunch of injuries, Hollister has seen success in the NFL. On 129 targets, Hollister has 83 receptions for 707 yards and seven touchdowns.

His style of play is a depth play as Hollister can play both a receiving and blocking role.

By adding him to the practice squad, the Viking had to make a corresponding move in releasing cornerback Parry Nickerson. The fifth-year cornerback has played in 25 games in the NFL with four of them as a Vikings in 2021. He has 25 tackles, one pass defended and one tackle for loss in his career.

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Patrick Peterson picks the best highlight from Vikings minicamp

Here’s a hint: It’s on the defensive side of the ball.

The Minnesota Vikings offense had the defense’s number all spring with one particular play, but when wrapping up mandatory minicamp, Ed Donatell’s unit finally decided they’d had enough.

During an appearance on All Things Covered, legendary cornerback Patrick Peterson spoke about what he considers to be the best highlight from minicamp—a Kellen Mond interception by fellow corner Parry Nickerson.

“My boy, Parry—it was literally the last play we were doing out of the two-minute scenario. Offense get all the way down to like the seven-yard line, third down and 16 seconds to go. They got to score. It’s 14-10, we up, no timeouts left. Kellan takes the snap, and they’ve been killing us with this rout all spring.

“…But we had they ass today. We put in the coverage, threw it right to my boy, pickkkkk. All of the defensive players ran onto the field. It was great energy. It was the last play of spring practice. It was crazy.”

It was a strong way for the defense to end spring practice.

Even quarterback Kirk Cousins lauded the defensive improvements when speaking with media members. He talked about Donatell’s philosophy of disguising coverages and things looking “muddy” on the opposite side of the field.

A muddy picture is without question the last thing any quarterback wants to see with a pair of pass-rushing hounds in Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith breathing down their neck.

That clouded picture obviously led to one of Mond’s passes going the other way and a massive defensive celebration at Wednesday’s practice.

The hope is that it’s the first of many celebrations to come for the reconstructed defense with Donatell at the helm.

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Vikings 2022 NFL draft preview: Where does Minnesota stand at CB?

The Vikings should be aggressive at cornerback

There’s no need in beating around the bush when it comes to this year’s 2022 NFL draft preview. We’re getting right to the main event, and for the Minnesota Vikings, it all starts with the cornerback position.

It’s no surprise that everyone from mock draft experts to couch analysts still have the team taking a corner with the No. 12 overall pick.

The secondary was burnt toast on a weekly basis last season, and yet, instead of throwing the toast away entirely, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has opted to just scrape off some of the charred crust and put it right back on the plate.

There’s still work to do in the draft, and fans are hopeful the first-year GM adds another playmaker to the defensive backfield sooner rather than later.

Vikings make a few roster moves

The Vikings made some elevations for the game against the Lions on Sunday.

As the Vikings prepare for a divisional matchup with the Lions, the team has made several roster decisions that should impact the depth of the roster in Week 5.

Minnesota waived Dan Chisena, a wide receiver whose main role on the Vikings was special teams. The team wasn’t done there.

The Vikings also activated G Dakota Dozier and CB Parry Nickerson as COVID-19 replacements. Dozier and Nickerson are both out of conventional practice squad elevations, meaning Minnesota would have to sign them to the active roster in the event that they are elevated without being COVID-19 replacements.

Minnesota elevated CB Tye Smith to the roster for the game vs. Detroit as well. The Vikings clearly wanted to add cornerback depth this week, with Harrison Hand and Cameron Dantzler both on the COVID-19/reserve list still.

Dozier, Nickerson and Smith may get playing time on special teams. Against the Browns, both Dozier and Nickerson played on special teams after getting elevated from the practice squad.

Vikings elevate OL Dakota Dozier and CB Parry Nickerson

The Vikings made two elevations for the upcoming game against the Browns.

Despite some ups and downs in his career, Dakota Dozier finished strong in the preseason of 2021. He struggled in the first game against the Broncos, but followed that up with some flashes of a promise. He knows the system and has experience as a starter, so he can still add something to the team.

Now, the Vikings guard has worked his way up to being a roster elevation next game.

Dozier — and CB Parry Nickerson — have been added to the gameday roster for the matchup with the Browns. Dozier said, earlier this offseason when asked about Oli Udoh being a starter, that he would control his effort and attitude.

Nickerson also finished the preseason strong: getting a pick-six against the Chiefs. The Vikings cornerback may get defensive reps, but he will probably be more of a special teams player.

Both Dozier and Nickerson are now out of elevations for the rest of the year, barring an event where they are a COVID/reserve replacement player.

In other news, the Vikings did not activate RB Kene Nwangwu off IR.

Vikings sign former Packers CB Parry Nickerson

The Packers free agent cornerback has found a new home in the NFC North.

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One of the Green Bay Packers’ unsigned free agents has found a new home in the NFC North.

Cornerback Parry Nickerson, who played in just one game for the Packers last season, signed with the Minnesota Vikings. The team announced the addition on Monday.

Nickerson, 26, was a sixth-round pick of the New York Jets in 2018.

The Packers originally signed Nickerson on Sept. 7 of last year. He played in one game – appearing on two special teams snaps – against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5. He was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 20 and never returned, although he was designated for return and eventually practiced with the team in January.

Nickerson was a restricted free agent but wasn’t offered a tender, making him an unrestricted free agent.

Nickerson has terrific speed (4.32), but he’s only played 250 total defensive snaps in his NFL career.

Among the Packers’ remaining unsigned free agents are Snacks Harrison and Tyler Ervin.

Vikings sign CB Parry Nickerson and T Evin Ksiezarczyk

The Minnesota Vikings announced on Monday the signings of CB Parry Nickerson and T Evin Ksiezarczyk.

Minnesota has shored up starting positions at cornerback and tackle this offseason. That said, the Vikings could use some more players near the bottom of the depth chart for those positions.

Enter more depth. Minnesota announced on Monday that the team has signed CB Parry Nickerson and T Evin Ksiezarczyk. Ksiezarczyk, a tackle who participated in the Vikings’ minicamp, has a chance to be a reserve tackle. However, he should presumably have competition for reps with Rashod Hill and other reserves.

Nickerson, a former sixth-round pick by the Jets, could also fill out a reserve role with the team. He played in 16 games with New York in 2018, starting two. He finished that season with one pass defended and 21 combined tackles.

Cornerbacks Cameron Dantzler, Patrick Peterson and Mackensie Alexander should be taking a lot of reps in 2021, but Minnesota struggled with corner depth this past season, so it helps to have talent below those three on the depth chart.