A Number of Former Vikings Have Been Released Across the NFL
Roster cutdowns have been going on across the NFL with the cutdown deadline being today at 3 PM Central.
To this point, a number of former Vikings players have been released by their newest teams. Here is a look at a few of the releases across the league.
WR Dan Chisena
Over the weekend, the Pittsburgh Steelers released former Vikings special teams ace Dan Chisena. Once the punt gunner for Minnesota, Chisena spent his first three NFL seasons with the Vikings from 2020-2022. He played 27 games for the Vikings over those three years and recorded 11 tackles and a fumble recovery.
However, during the preseason with Pittsburgh, Chisena did not get much playing time for the Steelers, appearing in just 4 special teams snaps. He made a reception in Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons that went for 16 yards.
DT Jaylen Twyman
Jaylen Twyman was part of the 2021 Vikings draft class, and he was selected in the sixth round of the draft. During the summer before his first NFL season, he was shot multiple times while visiting family in Washington D.C., and he was out for his entire rookie season as a result. Then, he was one of the many selections from that 2021 class to be cut by Kwesi Adofo-Mensah last summer.
Twyman spent the 2023 preseason with the Miami Dolphins, and he made the most of the opportunity with 7 total QB pressures and 2 sacks over the three games. However, Miami released him on Monday morning, and now, the young defensive tackle is hoping to land with another team.
LB Nick Vigil
Nick Vigil spent the 2021 season with the Minnesota Vikings, starting 12 games over the course of the year. He put together 85 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, a sack, and an interception.
Vigil left the Vikings that offseason and played for the Arizona Cardinals during 2022. He appeared in just four games during that season, but he signed with the New York Jets this offseason. The linebacker played all three games and appeared in 70 defensive snaps. He was released by New York on Monday, leaving the 30-year-old on the free agency market.
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
Ihmir Smith-Marsette wasn’t a cut, but the Kansas City Chiefs traded the former Viking WR to the Carolina Panthers. He now reunites with Adam Thielen in Carolina.
The Vikings selected Smith-Marsette in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and he looked like a promising young receiver down the stretch of his rookie season. He caught 5 passes for 116 yards and 2 TDs during his only season in Minnesota before being cut in 2022.
Since then, he has hopped around the league, including stints with the Chicago Bears and eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. He now hopes to make an impact in Carolina alongside rookie QB Bryce Young.
2023 Vikings Roster Cuts Tracker
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.