Vikings Elevate 2 Veterans
On Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings attempt to steal a game from the Detroit Lions to end the five-game losing streak against the NFC North rivals. Detroit is favored to win that one; oddsmakers even give them a 9.5-point spread.
Vikings Elevate 2 Veterans
Injuries can no longer be used as an excuse for the underperforming group, as the starting lineup has gotten pretty healthy over the last few weeks. Andrew Van Ginkel, Brian O’Neill, and Christian Darrisaw are all expected to play, and so is J.J. McCarthy. Blake Cashman and Aaron Jones have already returned in recent games.
There will be a few missing players, however, including fullback C.J. Ham, tight end Josh Oliver, and cornerback Jeff Okudah.
To replace them, the franchise announced that two practice squad players will suit up on Sunday: cornerback Fabian Moreau and tight end Nick Vannett.
Fabian Moreau
The depth at cornerback is a well-known issue for the Vikings. Top guys Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers have been a solid duo, but behind them, the club employs a struggling Okudah and sophomore Dwight McGlothern. Preseason star McGlothern has barely seen the field in his young career. Minnesota is reportedly exploring trade options at the position.
Moreau spent the entire 2024 campaign with the Vikings and even played some meaningful football towards the end of the season when Stephon Gilmore was forced to sit out a couple of games.
He’s the personified veteran journeyman, having already played for Washington (2017-2020), the Atlanta Falcons (2021), the Houston Texans (2022), and the Denver Broncos (2023). This offseason, he tried to make the 49ers’ roster but was cut, and the Vikings re-signed him after a few months away.
It remains to be seen whether the Vikings trust McGlothern against Detroit’s strong pass-catchers in three-cornerback sets. If they don’t, Moreau could be in line for some reps. He appeared in Week 2, which Okudah also missed. Sunday will be Moreau’s 115th career game.
Nick Vannett
At tight end, T.J. Hockenson will obviously continue to get the bulk of the snaps. However, Kevin O’Connell has frequently deployed two tight ends this season. Without Oliver, he could pivot towards more plays with three receivers and just one tight end on the field.
Behind Hockenson, the squad includes rookie Ben Yurosek, who has been a solid blocker, especially for a first-year player. Undrafted rookie from 2023, Ben Sims, was waived after his first preseason, and the Green Bay Packers picked him up. Last week, the Packers waived him after over two years, and the Vikes welcomed him back. He could make his regular-season Vikings debut versus Detroit.
Vannett has already played three games this season. He has yet to catch a pass. Throughout his career, the 32-year-old has played in 114 career games for the Seahawks, Steelers, Broncos, Saints, Giants, Chargers, and Titans. Like Moreau, he has bounced around. Vannett passed the career-1,000-yard mark last season.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.