On Tuesday, the Minnesota Vikings made a couple of practice squad moves, at least one of which points to a potential issue with the club’s special teams unit.
The team has announced that they have added punter Johnny Hekker and running back Jaret Patterson to the practice squad. To make room, the team has waived cornerback Bryce Phillips and wide receiver Trayvon Rudolph.
The Vikings have also waived defensive lineman Taki Taimani from injured reserve.
Hekker, who spent the preseason with the Vikings
and ultimately lost the team’s punting battle to rookie Brett Thorson, is back with the team because Thorson is now dealing with a hamstring injury that he suffered at some point during the team’s 9-3 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday. The team is still evaluating Thorson’s condition, and it isn’t known at this time whether or not he will miss any time. If he does, the long-time veteran will be prepared to take over Thorson’s duties as both punter and holder for Will Reichard.
Patterson has been in the league for a few seasons, as he signed with the Washington Football Team as an undrafted free agent in 2021. He spent his first two seasons with Washington, rushing for 266 yards and two touchdowns on 68 carries in his first season before appearing in only three games in his second season and getting just 17 carries. He spent part of the 2023 season on the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice squad and then landed back with Washington’s practice squad after being let go by the Chargers in December.
Patterson has spent the last two seasons with the Chargers. He appeared in just one game in 2024 and in six games in 2025, carrying the ball 41 times for 159 yards and a touchdown.
It’s possible that Patterson was brought in because DeeJay Dallas could be dealing with an injury now as well. Dallas went out of Sunday’s game in Chicago after suffering what appeared to be some sort of leg injury in the fourth quarter. The Vikings also have veteran running back Jerome Ford on the practice squad, having signed him in the week leading up to the Bears game.
