The Minnesota Vikings signed running back Damon Bankston, a former Green Bay Packer, to the team’s practice squad this week. Bankston spent Weeks 1- 7 with Green Bay, over two stints, before the team needed space on their own practice squad. This addition is interesting, as Bankston could have some info on how the Packers want to attack the Vikings’ pressures.
As we all know, Minnesota blitzes at a crazy rate. According to Pro-Football-Reference, they have the Vikings down with a 67.6 percent blitz rate,
with the next highest team in the league being the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 37.2 percent.
Because of the extra blitzers, many offenses allocate extra blockers to face the Vikings, most notably running backs. Bankston was not only in Green Bay when the team prepared to play Minnesota in Week 1, but he could also have information on the adjustments the protections made coming out of that game.
If I were defensive coordinator Brian Flores, I’d want to pick the brain of the new addition, wouldn’t you?
The Packers made a similar addition to their practice squad ahead of their Week 1 matchup against the Vikings — which could be viewed as gamesmanship. Green Bay signed safety Kahlef Hailassie, who has been with Minnesota since 2025, ahead of the season opener. Hailassie is no longer with the Packers. We’ll have to see how long Bankston sticks with the Vikings, or if they only wanted his services for this particular week.
