Vikings Sign Veteran LB to the Active Roster Ahead of Week 10
Josh Frey
|
This weekend, the Minnesota Vikings will conclude their NFC South schedule by taking on the New Orleans Saints.
Ahead of that game, Minnesota made a few roster decisions for this weekend. One such decision came in the form of signing veteran LB Nick Vigil to the active roster.
Vigil had spent the past few weeks on the Vikings practice squad and had been elevated in each of the past two weeks, and it seems his performances have been impressive enough to land a roster spot.
Vikings Sign Veteran LB to the Active Roster
The Vikings announced this decision as well as a few others via social media, tweeting, “The #Vikings have signed LB Nick Vigil to the active roster. QB Sean Mannion and DL T.J. Smith have been elevated to the active roster for tomorrow’s game. DL Sheldon Day has been signed to the practice squad. WR Justin Jefferson and G Chris Reed have been downgraded to OUT for #NOvsMIN.”
Vigil spent one season with the Vikings earlier in his career. It was the 2021 season where he recorded 85 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, a sack, and an interception. He would start 12 games for the Vikings that year.
Prior to his stint in Minnesota, Vigil was a third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. He spent his first four NFL seasons with the Bengals, recording 295 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 14 passes defended, and 2 interceptions.
Meanwhile, the expected has become official as the Vikings will indeed not activate Justin Jefferson for this game. He was downgraded to out on Saturday as the star receiver continues to work his way back from his hamstring injury.
Jefferson was on a torrent pace prior to the injury, recording 36 receptions for 571 yards and 3 TDs despite missing much of the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 5.
Since Jefferson’s injury, though, the Vikings have found their stride on the offensive side of the ball. They’ve rattled off four consecutive wins over the past month to get themselves back into the playoff race, but they will need their WR1 at full health for a difficult final stretch of the year following their Week 13 bye.
The Vikings have also decided that Sean Mannion will back up Josh Dobbs at QB this week while Jaren Hall continues to work his way back from his concussion. Dobbs put together an incredible performance against the Falcons after being traded to Minnesota just five days earlier, so hopefully, he is able to replicate some of that magic in Week 10.
Kickoff between the Saints and Vikings is just hours away, and with both teams sitting at 5-4, it will be very important for each group to get a victory this week to improve their playoff chances this season.
4 Big Questions for the Vikings Heading into the Second Half of the Season
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.