Unfortunately the clean bill of health that appeared to follow the Bengals game was met with the announcement of Donovan Jackson’s surgery on Monday. That leaves the offensive line still without a key part. However, the team made a pair of roster moves on Tuesday, and one bolsters the offense in a big way.

Jordan Addison returns among MN Vikings roster moves

This offseason Jordan Addison was suspended for three weeks after his “wet reckless” plea stemming from the arrest two summers ago. He has served his time and is now rejoining the active roster. That move comes with a new running back and a trio of releases.

The #Vikings have signed RB Corey Kiner to the practice squad and WR Jordan Addison is now on the 53-man roster.

WR Tim Jones has been released.

WR Lucky Jackson and RB Xazavian Valladay have been released from the practice squad.

📰: https://t.co/wgxxJPdf5r pic.twitter.com/RcgTgK8ZVg

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 23, 2025

Addison’s return will immediately place him back into the starting lineup alongside Justin Jefferson. He’ll overtake Adam Thielen and Jalen Nailor while looking to substantiate a strong first two years in the NFL.

Last season Addison turned in 63 catches for 875 yards and nine touchdowns. In two years, across 32 games, the former first round pick has a whopping 19 touchdowns. Although Thielen and Nailor have attempted to hold serve for the offense, Addison’s presence will give Carson Wentz another top-tier option to get the ball to.

JORDAN ADDISON ONE-HANDED DIVING TOUCHDOWN CATCH pic.twitter.com/k5tFvYQFmG

— vikesinsider (@vikesinsider) November 4, 2024

Beyond just the addition of Addison, Minnesota has also added running back Corey Kiner to the practice squad. A rookie this season, Kiner played 12 games for Cincinnati last year. He rushed for 1,153 yards on 204 carries (5.7 yards per attempt) and found the end zone four times.

Kiner’s addition to the practice squad gives Minnesota some flexibility. They recently re-signed Cam Akers after veteran Aaron Jones was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Ty Chandler is also on injured reserve, so the only 53-man roster running backs are Jordan Mason and Zavier Scott.

Minnesota Vikings release three players

With Addison back the Vikings decided that veteran Tim Jones was no longer needed. He played in two games this season but got just six offensive snaps while adding 25 on special teams.

Although Lucky Jackson was not on the active roster, he lost his spot on the practice squad. Jackson couldn’t grab hold of opportunity during the preseason, and multiple key drops left him off the roster. He’ll now look to latch on with another organization.

In signing Kiner, the Vikings also shuffled practice squad running backs. Xazavian Valladay will be looking to find employment elsewhere. He appeared in one game for the New York Jets back in 2023.

The Vikings concluded their roster moves by waiving undrafted rookie defensive lineman Alexander Williams. He was on injured reserve.

Many roster moves are straightforward. Training camp bodies are brought in to compete during the preseason, but there is no real path to a roster spot. Not all of the moves work that way though, and sometimes players earn a surprising spot.

On the flip side, when someone takes a spot out of nowhere, it has a trickle down effect. The Vikings rostered a whopping seven undrafted free agents. These are the four most shocking names to miss the cut.

Gabriel Murphy, OLB

There are four players on this list, but none compare to the surprise cut that was Gabriel Murphy. He was a standout during training camp and the preseason last year. The undrafted free agent out of UCLA earned his way onto the field for a pair of games during the regular season as well.

This preseason Murphy racked up 1.5 sacks in limited action. He seemed like an edge rusher with the arrow pointing straight up. Then again, it’s a tough group to crack when Brian Flores boasts the best front seven in the league.

Gabriel Murphy (@GabrielMurphy_) with the cross chop/club. Clears the blocker & gets the sack. If you beat the hands, you beat the man! #PassRush #Skol pic.twitter.com/bHRuca0WBU

— DLineVids (@dlinevids1) August 9, 2025

Ultimately the Vikings opted to carry undrafted free agent Chaz Chambliss instead. The Georgia product probably has more impact on special teams and that could be the difference. Murphy won’t be unemployed long, and it would hardly be shocking if he put up some good starting numbers.

It wasn’t even as though Murphy was next in line either. Austin Keys, another undrafted rookie, made the time as a linebacker also.

Taki Taimani, DL

An undrafted rookie last season, Taimani saw time on defense for Minnesota. He played in seven games and recorded three tackles on 70 defensive snaps. It’s not that he was a fixture or even a rotational player, but development would have suggested another step forward this season.

Of course that interior line is not the same group this team employs. Harrison Phillips and those patchwork pieces behind him are gone. Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave are here to wreak havoc. Taimani found himself bested by the competition and now he’ll look to stick elsewhere.

Nick Vannett, TE

It’s not so much that Vannett wasn’t kept for Minnesota. He was a late training camp addition and came about because the tight end depth had hit a snag. Rookie Gavin Bartholomew is going to miss the season, and he was set to be the third option behind T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver.

Rather than just go with Vannett, who has nine years of experience under his belt, Minnesota opted for undrafted free agent Benjamin Yurosek. Last season Vannett was active for all 17 games with the Tennessee Titans and drew 10 starts. He’s had more than 200 yards receiving in a season just once during his career, but he keeps seeing opportunities.

#Vikings TE Ben Yurosek has been impressing so far 👀

(@Dust_Vikings)pic.twitter.com/f39X8sda8R

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) August 5, 2025

Yurosek, a Georgia product, had only 15 receptions for the Bulldogs last season. He turned them into 185 yards, but had just five career touchdowns in 48 collegiate games. This could be more of a special teams play as well.

Lucky Jackson, WR

When you have just five wide receivers make a roster, and only two of them are worthy of a starting role, it’s worth scrutinizing the position. Lucky Jackson wasn’t a surprise cut if you watched him fumble away the opportunity during the preseason. He was a surprise cut because a roster spot was his for the taking and he flopped.

Instead of Jackson, the Vikings will roll with undrafted free agent Myles Price, and uninspiring veteran Tim Jones. Price has utility as a returner and showed some nice chemistry with third string quarterback Max Brosmer. Jones played all 17 games each of the past three seasons for the Jaguars, but he has just 17 receptions to his credit.

Today's bad drop… Lucky Jackson with a perfectly thrown ball by J.J. McCarthy.pic.twitter.com/VQ9Bsyvu2L

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) August 14, 2025

Jackson could have been in line to push Jalen Nailor for reps at some point this season. Instead his untimely drops and uninspiring play left him on the unemployment line.

The Minnesota Vikings kick off their season on September 8 against the Chicago Bears. These surprise cuts will be looking to land deals elsewhere before then.

Arguably the two greatest positional battles for the Vikings come at the third wide receiver and cornerback positions. On offense it’s who is behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. On defense it’s who plays with Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers.

There is an injury keeping both Jefferson and Rodgers from practicing. That allows for guys looking to make a name for themselves an opportunity.

Lucky Jackson stands out for Minnesota Vikings

Jalen Nailor is firmly entrenched as the MN Vikings third wide receiver. He is the incumbent and scored six touchdowns across 17 games last year. However, there is opportunity with Jefferson out, and a possible suspension for Addison looming. Ben Goessling noted Lucky Jackson as a player who has stood out early.

“I guess the first name that comes to mind for me, the opportunity has come to him because of Justin Jefferson, but Lucky Jackson. He’s gotten a lot of time with the 1’s and has looked like a guy that can contribute there. He’s not seeing all of the top corners with Isaiah Rodgers not practicing, but the times he’s gotten with the 1’s and the plays he’s made when he’s been there, I think have been noteworthy. Had another nice catch yesterday [Monday], and he just looks like he’s played the position, he’s been in this offense for a while now…he has been impressive to me.”

Ben Goessling – Access Vikings

Lucky Jackson went undrafted out of Western Kentucky and has spent time on the Minnesota Vikings practice squad. He was active for three games in 2023 but played just three offensive snaps and another 32 on defense. He has yet to record a catch in a regular season game.

Lucky Jackson has a nice one handed grab from JJ McCarthy in 7 on 7’s. pic.twitter.com/HHQFwLf5QW

— Skol Geek (@SkolGeek) July 29, 2025

Jackson would be considered as the elder statesman among potential down-roster wide receiver depth. Tai Felton was a 2025 draft pick, and Silas Bolden was signed as an undrafted free agent.

Related: Vikings Front Seven Living Up to Hype Early

Kevin O’Connell is going to need someone from the group behind Jefferson, Addison, and Nailor to step up. Minnesota utilized more than just three wideouts last year. Now they are dealing with uncertainty regarding both of their top two.

Jeff Okudah a MN Vikings defensive standout

The Minnesota Vikings cornerback position seems to leave something to be desired on paper. Behind Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers there is uncertainty. They did bring in former third overall pick Jeff Okudah, but he hasn’t worked out in any of his previous stops. Something may be clicking at TCO though.

“I haven’t seen a ton of things just myself observing this short camp we’ve had, but Jeff Okudah continues to get these reps as the third corner. This can age very quickly because they’ll bring in Stephon Gilmore in late August and things can change obviously. But, Brian Flores was really complimentary yesterday [Monday] talking about Jeff Okudah and how he’s been since he got him. He’s been great in the building, in the locker room, great on the field. It doesn’t sound like a coach ready to give up on this guy the way that the NFL seemingly has before.”

Andrew Krammer – Access Vikings

Krammer goes on to note that even undrafted cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn has gotten reps ahead of Mekhi Blackmon and Dwight McGlothern. It’s Okudah who has seen real run above all of them.

After the Lions took Okudah third overall in 2020 he played just 25 games (22 starts) across three seasons for them. The Ohio State product then went to Atlanta and Houston before joining the Vikings.

Related: MN Vikings O-Line Getting Healthy Fast

It’s beyond plausible that the Vikings bring in a more established veteran. Okudah can be strong depth if Minnesota believes in him either way. For now though, he’s clearly taking the opportunity and running with it.

Now it’s up to coach Kevin O’Connell to get the most out of the pieces he’s been given. So, which Vikings training camp battles can fans look forward to?

Related: Top 10 Minnesota Vikings QB Draft Picks of All-Time

Minnesota Vikings fans get first QB competition since 2014

It’s crazy to think back, but the Vikings haven’t headed into the season with a quarterback battle since 2014, when it was either Teddy Bridgewater, Matt Cassel, or Christian Ponder. It’s a similar scenario this year, only J.J. McCarthy, selected tenth, was drafted far ahead of Bridgewater, who was the final player picked in the first round.

Vikings coaches have done their best to lower expectations of the 21-year-old while hyping up former No. 2 overall pick Sam Darnold. But teams don’t take players in the top ten and then sit them on the bench all year long.

Darnold may very well be in for a career year, but if McCarthy looks ahead of the curve, the coaching staff may not have a choice but to start him. Once the locker room becomes convinced he’s ‘the guy,’ there’s no looking back.

Related: Top 10 Minnesota Vikings 1st Round Draft Picks of All-Time

Who will snag the Vikings’ WR3 role?

After letting K.J. Osborn leave in free agency, the Vikings suddenly have a gaping hole at the third receiver position. The in-house leader to snag the WR3 role is Brandon Powell, who’s seemingly Coach O’Connell’s teacher’s pet. But there are several worthy competitors too.

Vikings coaches have also propped up Jalen “Speedy” Nailor for a couple of seasons now. Injuries have held him back, but if Nailor can stay on the field, he may prove to be the best pure receiver of the bunch. There’s always the chance that Trent Sherfield Sr, Lucky Jackson, or possibly even an outside addition becomes the third receiver behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison too.

Related: Vikings’ Star Tight End Has Some Big Praise for Rookie QB

MN Vikings training camp battles in trenches could be pivotal

The Vikings’ interior offensive line has been a weak point for several seasons now. Garrett Bradbury finding his way in 2022 was a much-needed development, and the same goes for Ed Ingram last season. But there are still question marks at left guard, despite Dalton Risner providing a steady hand in 2023.

Now the Vikings are starting from scratch, opening up the competition at guard between Risner, Ingram (who probably isn’t at risk of losing his job), and Blake Brandel. The Vikings didn’t give Brandel near-starter money just so he could stick around as a trusted backup; he’s definitely in the mix to start. Yet, competition breeds excellence, so maybe lighting a fire along the interior is just what this team needs.

Related: Blake Cashman is Gushing Over New Vikings Teammate, JJ McCarthy

Defensive line rotation is up for grabs in Minnesota

Arguably the Vikings’ biggest weakness heading into the season, the Vikings NEED to identify a difference-maker along the defensive line. Harrison Phillips is an above-average player, but he’ll never be elite, and he needs some help.

Unlike other areas of the team (defensive backs), the Vikings’ new regime hasn’t invested much draft capital into the defensive trenches. Edge rusher, sure, but not on the interior. However, the Vikings have a collection of ‘bodies’ who could snag a starting role. Along with Phillips, Jonathan Bullard, and Jerry Tillery are the expected starters, but don’t sleep on 2023 fifth-round pick Jaquelin Roy or James Lynch from earning a role either.

We also can’t forget about the fire inside Levi Drake Rodriguez’s heart. The rest of the NFL passed on LDR several times over before the Vikings ended his freefall as the 232nd overall pick. But coaches love his motor, giving him just as strong of a chance as any other competitor in this dogfight.

Related: Two of the Best Safeties in Football Should be Minnesota Vikings

Vikings cornerback battle will be fierce

Byron Murphy Jr replaced Patrick Peterson as the Vikings’ top cornerback with ease last season. After that? The jobs are up for grabs. Shaq Griffin, as a former Pro Bowl cornerback, is a good bet to hold down a starting role.

But Mekhi Blackmon and Akayleb Evans won’t make it easy. They combined for 18 starts last season (15 for Evans, 3 for Blackmon). There’s always the possibility Andrew Booth Jr shows up healthy and ready to live up to his potential as a former second-round pick, too; he’s only 23.

That’s not even accounting for 2023 undrafted rookies Jaylin Williams, NaJee Thompson, or the safety/cornerback hybrid Jay Ward. There’s a lot of competition here. Aside from the perceived QB battle, watching the corners slug it out might be the next best show in town.

Related: Kevin O’Connell Cannot Comprehend Why Other Teams Don’t Want Brian Flores

Kicking competition: Will Reichard or John Parker Romo?

Kickers are people too. The Vikings let Greg Joseph test free agency, which led to him joining a three-headed Green Bay Packers competition. Good luck.

Meanwhile, the Vikings have turned their attention to All-XFL kicker John Parker Romo, who’s spent time with the Saints, Lions, and Bears. But he’s never kicked in an NFL game. Although, some kickers just take longer to find their way, and it’s possible the 26-year-old is ready for primetime.

But then there’s Will Reichard, who the Vikings couldn’t wait to make the first kicker drafted back in April. The sixth-round pick out of Alabama has a big boot, which should play well in U.S. Bank Stadium, and coaches are already impressed. Since the Vikings used a draft pick on Reichard, it’s hard to imagine him losing his roster spot, but it all depends on the competition.

Related: ESPN: Vikings Should Have NFL’s Best Weapons