MN Vikings Land New Cornerback

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Shemar Bartholomew
Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings cornerback depth is a bit stretched with Jeff Okudah on injured reserve with his second concussion this season, but that is probably putting it too lightly.

Since Okudah’s injury, defensive coordinator Brian Flores has again turned to Fabian Moreau, as CB3. On Saturday, GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah signed the 31-year-old one-time UCLA standout DB to Minnesota’s active roster, in place of Okudah.

Moreau, has repeatedly exceeded expectations since signing first landing in the Twin Cities last season, pretty much saving the Vikings’ defensive back issues mid-season two years in a row. But with Fabian elevated on a full-time basis, that left a roster spot open on the Minnesota Vikings practice squad.

Minnesota Vikings sign CB Shemar Bartholomew

So when Asante Samuel Jr. — who took a free agent visit to TCO Performance Center over the weekend — signed with the Steelers practice squad on Tuesday, Kwesi moved on another DB to fill the void, UDFA Shemar Bartholomew, out of Georgia Southern.

When the season started it was Fabian Moreau that Minnesota held onto by using a practice squad spot. After he joined the active roster, the practice squad options were down to just Zemaiah Vaughn and Tyrek Funderburk. That changed on Tuesday.

Undrafted out of Georgia Southern, Shemar Bartholomew signed with the Carolina Panthers after being released by the New York Jets. The 25-year-old appeared in five games and recorded three tackles as a Panther.

He got most of his playing time in Carolina on special teams — 17 defensive snaps, 34 special teams snaps. Bartholomew will join fellow cornerbacks Zemaiah Vaughn and Tyrek Funderburk on the MN Vikings practice squad.

It’s clear that the MN Vikings were hoping to fill their open practice squad spot with Asante Samuel Jr., which is likely why they left it open for a few days while he made up his mind. Instead, news broke Tuesday that Samuel is signing in Pittsburgh, leaving Kwesi to find CB help elsewhere.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah created his own CB depth issues

Of course, the Minnesota Vikings general manager created his one depth issues in the secondary last offseason, when he built a paper-thin cornerback room with prior injury issues, among other things, then refused to add to it during training camp.

CB1 Byron Murphy Jr was tasked with more responsibility this season, even before injuries started hitting his teammates, following a hefty pay increase this offseason. Newly signed Isaiah Rodgers has been splashy, but inconsistent. That’s to be expected from a first-year full-time starter.

Most importantly, Rodgers and Murphy Jr. have been available. And when it comes to the 2025 Vikings secondary, that part is CRUCIAL. If this team is going to have any chance at making a late-season playoff run, both guys will have to remain on the field and playing the best football of their careers.

The Minnesota host the Chicago Bears on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. They are three point favorites after beating them in Week 1. They’ll then turn their focus to Matt LaFleur’s Green Bay Packers. At 4-5, Kevin O’Connell’s team can’t afford to keep failing to capitalize on opportunities.

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