Recapping the Vikings’ Roster Moves This Week
The Minnesota Vikings are just a couple days away from the start of their first week of OTAs.
With those practices approaching, the Vikings’ roster has seen a number of changes over the past week. Here is a look at each of the recent moves that Minnesota has made.
Vikings’ Roster Moves of the Past Week
Vikings Sign TE Sammis Reyes
The first move of the week came with the Vikings opting to sign TE Sammis Reyes. Reyes joined the team for rookie minicamp, and evidently, he showed enough during that weekend to prove that he deserved a spot on the offseason roster.
Reyes, a former basketball player, got his first NFL action with the Washington Commanders back in 2021, but he has yet to step back onto the field during the regular season.
Vikings Release CB Joejuan Williams
On Tuesday, the Vikings made the decision to release veteran cornerback Joejuan Williams, thus eliminating a name from their cornerback battle this summer. Williams joined the Vikings in 2023, but he played just two games with the team, spending the majority of the year on the practice squad.
Now, the former second-round pick is back on the free agency market hoping to land a job for his sixth NFL season.
Vikings Sign DT James Lynch
Another move for the Vikings involved bringing back a familiar face. James Lynch was a fourth-round pick by Minnesota in the 2020 NFL Draft, and over his first three seasons, he appeared in 37 games and made three starts. In total, he recorded 53 tackles, four tackles for loss, and two sacks.
Ahead of the 2023 campaign, Lynch tore his ACL during training camp, which resulted in him losing his entire year. The defensive tackle is getting another chance to capture a role with the Vikings, though.
Vikings Sign TE Robert Tonyan
Robert Tonyan became the second tight end to sign with Minnesota this week. The veteran has bounced around the NFC North, playing his first five seasons with the Green Bay Packers before signing with the Chicago Bears in 2023.
Now, Tonyan joins the Vikings as another insurance plan if T.J. Hockenson’s injury requires longer recovery than expected.
Vikings Release LB Donovan Manuel
The Vikings signed LB Donovan Manuel as an undrafted free agent out of Florida International. The linebacker recorded 121 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, and half a sack in 2023, but Minnesota has decided to part ways with him to create room for Tonyan on the roster.
Vikings Visit CB Jerry Jacobs
Jerry Jacobs has not been signed yet, but the veteran cornerback is scheduled to visit the Vikings and could be the next free agency target. Jacobs spent the first three seasons of his career with the Lions and recorded a career-high three interceptions this past year.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference and Sports Reference CFB.
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.
