Ahead of tomorrow afternoon’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Minnesota Vikings have made a handful of roster moves that we will get you caught up on here.
First, the Vikings have signed punter Johnny Hekker to the 53-man roster. Hekker was added to the practice squad earlier this week and will handle the punting and holding duties this week, with Brett Thorson having been declared out with a hamstring injury.
To make room for Hekker on the active roster, the Vikings placed offensive lineman
Nick Samac on injured reserve, meaning that he will miss the team’s next four games. Samac was claimed off waivers from the Carolina Panthers after this year’s final cuts and has been inactive for both of the Vikings’ first two games this season.
The team has also elevated outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy and safety Tavierre Thomas to the active roster from the practice squad. This is Van Noy’s third elevation of the season, meaning that if the team wants him to be able to play going forward, they will have to sign him to the 53-man roster. A player can be elevated from the practice squad no more than three times during a season. Van Noy has played 30% of the Vikings’ defensive snaps so far this season.
This is the first elevation of the season for Thomas.
It should also be noted that linebacker Ivan Pace did not travel with the team to Tampa due to a personal issue and has now been listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game. No word on who would get his snaps if he were unable to play, but it could open up an opportunity for rookie Jake Golday to see his first defensive snaps of the season if Pace is unable to make it to Tampa in time to play.
Those should be the final moves for the Vikings ahead of Sunday’s game. If they do anything else, we will pass that news along to you as soon as we are able.
