Vikings Sign Familiar Face to Practice Squad Ahead of Week 6
On Wednesday afternoon, the Vikings placed both WR Justin Jefferson and QB Nick Mullens on IR.
As a result, the Vikings not only lose their star receiver for at least the next four weeks, but they also will be without their backup QB.
This prompted one more signing on Wednesday, and the Vikings signed a familiar face to the practice squad at the QB position. That player is Sean Mannion.
Vikings Sign Familiar Face to Practice Squad
The move was reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network in a Twitter thread including a variety of Vikings news. Pelissero wrote, “Minnesota also signed QB Sean Mannion to the practice squad.”
Mannion spent three seasons in Minnesota from 2019-2021. He appeared in four games during his previous tenure in Minnesota, including two starts. The starts came in 2019 and 2021. In all, the QB totaled 315 passing yards, a touchdown, and 2 interceptions while completing 59.6% of his passes.
Prior to joining the Vikings, Mannion spent four seasons with the Rams from 2015-2018. He was selected in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft back when the franchise still resided in St. Louis.
Over those four seasons, Mannion was buried on the depth chart behind players like Nick Foles, Case Keenum, and Jared Goff. As a result, he played just 10 games for the Rams and made only one start, throwing for 258 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception.
In 2022, Mannion found himself replaced by Mullens in Minnesota, who was acquired via trade with the Las Vegas Raiders just days after he showed out in a preseason game against the Vikings. Mannion was waived by Minnesota then picked up by the Seattle Seahawks for their practice squad where he remained until the season ended in January.
With rookie Jaren Hall now moving into the QB2 role behind Kirk Cousins, Mannion likely will serve as Minnesota’s emergency QB3 moving into Week 6 against the Chicago Bears. If the Vikings fail to win that game, they will fall into sole possession of last place in the NFC North for the first time since 2020.
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.