Arizona Cardinals sign Minnesota Vikings WR Trishton Jackson

You may remember the name Trishton Jackson. He was a wide receiver on the Minnesota Vikings roster this past season and has actually been with the team since 2021. Before joining the Vikings, Jackson spent one season with the LA Rams as an undrafted free agent after the 2020 draft.

Related: JJ McCarthy Update: Minnesota Vikings Future Franchise QB Back on the Field

Yesterday, the Minnesota Vikings announced their list of players signed to futures contracts, and Jackson’s name wasn’t on it. However, today he landed a fresh opportunity with the Arizona Cardinals, as he was on their list of players signed to futures contracts.

We have signed WR Trishton Jackson and Quez Watkins to future contracts for the 2025 season.

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) January 16, 2025

Jackson made a big impression during the 2024 preseason, standing out with some catches and big yards. However, with the Vikings having so much depth at wide receiver, he ended up spending his entire time with the team on the practice squad.

In Week 1 of the preseason, Jackson made a big impact with 4 catches for 100 yards and a touchdown. In Week 2, he followed that up with 3 catches for 39 yards and another touchdown. By Week 3, his numbers dipped a bit with just 2 catches for 15 yards, but he still found the end zone for his third touchdown of the preseason.

Trishton Jackson hangs on for 6!

📺: @FOX9 pic.twitter.com/Vu3sF8KYnh

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 24, 2024

Related: Odds for 2025 Minnesota Vikings Starting QB Bring More Questions Than Answers

So during the 2024 preseason, he totaled 9 catches for 154 yards and 3 touchdowns, giving the people a glimpse of his potential and sparking excitement among Vikings fans. Despite this, he was placed on the practice squad. Now, he has an opportunity to join another team and showcase his skills.

Related: Vikings vs. Rams: Monday Injury Report for the Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings add LB Calvin Munson, release N’Keal Harry from practice squad

On Monday, the Minnesota Vikings announced that they’ve signed linebacker Calvin Munson to the practice squad. In a corresponding move, N’Keal Harry has been released from the practice squad and replaced by Trishton Jackson, who was released last week.

Whether this will be the end of Harry’s time in Minnesota remains to be seen, but as for Munson, it’s his first time joining the Vikings. But there’s a reason he’s being brought to town.

The 29-year-old linebacker is known for being a special teams standout, which is likely what made him stick in Brian Flores’ memory after previously coaching him in Miami for parts of three seasons.

• Calvin Munson’s stats (career): 89 tackles (6 TFL), two sacks, 1 FF

A turnover before the end of the quarter for the @Patriots defense. @calmunson

📺: #NEvsTEN on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/624TrfDUF6 pic.twitter.com/ZPIMoEPaRf

— NFL (@NFL) August 26, 2023

What else?

Calvin Munson’s career high in tackles (60) came during his rookie season back in 2017 with the New York Giants. He’s mainly played special teams ever since. In fact, he’s played more snaps on special teams (685) than on defense in the NFL (546).

While we’ll have to wait and see what type of role the Minnesota Vikings have in mind for their new middle linebacker, he’ll be competing with the likes of Kamu Grugier-Hill and Brian Asamoah. But both those players are on the Vikings’ active roster; Munson is still just on the practice squad, so he has some ground to make up while learning how the team operates over the next few weeks.

In reality, this likely means he’s competing with undrafted rookies Dallas Gant and Max Tooley, both of whom are alongside Calvin Munson on the practice squad, itching to receive their first shot to play in an NFL game.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Seriously Considering a Move to Dalton Risner

Aaron Jones, TJ Hockenson and Dalton Risner were all questionable entering the weekend. And while neither Hock or Risner are mandated to come off the PUP list today, both guys made it clear earlier in the week that they thought it was possible.

Minnesota Vikings rule TJ Hockenson, Dalton Risner both OUT

But it didn’t happen. On Saturday afternoon, both Risner and Hockenson were ruled OUT for Sunday’s noon contest vs the Lions. Robert Tonyan has been signed to the roster, to add tight end depth vs TJ’s old team.

Related: Friday Minnesota Vikings Injury Report: Who’s In and Who’s Out vs Lions?

Meanwhile, Jones went from ‘oh god, how long is he going to be out’ just a few days ago, to a guy who is all set to be active and in the starting lineup tomorrow. And all of this coming off of a bye week. In other moves, the Vikings waived wide receiver Trishton Jackson and elevated two players off the practice squad.

Jalen Redmond, Bo Richter called up off the practice squad vs the Detroit Lions

One of those practice squad call-ups is DL Jalen Redmond, who was waived and then signed back to the practice squad earlier this week. EDGE Bo Richter, who has been a regular practice squad elevation over the first five games, will also be active.

The #Vikings have announced the following roster moves

– Signed TE Robert Tonyan to the 53-man roster

– Waived WR Trishton Jackson

– Elevated DL Jalen Redmond and OLB Bo Richter to the active roster for tomorrow's game

– Downgraded TE T.J. Hockenson and G Dalton Risner to OUT pic.twitter.com/BfPeWTW6uz

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 19, 2024

TJ Hockenson’s new status for Sunday is not a surprise. Local and national insiders have both had him all but ruled out this entire week. Again, this all points to injury report gamesmanship, which the NFL is trying to get rid of.

Lots of things to watch after today’s roster moves

Clearly, the Minnesota Vikings knew that TJ Hockenson wasn’t going to play vs the Lions. Somebody was feeding that information to every insider who hit the pager button. Yet, he was listed all week as “limited” in practice and then hit the final Friday injury report as “Questionable”.

Related: Former Minnesota Vikings EDGE Welcomes Revenge Factor NFC North Trade Rumors

What’s also worth monitoring is the situation with Dalton Risner. Earlier this week, the 29-year-old former Bronco made it very clear that he was 100% healthy and ready to go. Not only that, but he stated multiple times while interviewing with media that he’s been ready to go.

"I'm comfortable at right and left, whatever guard position it is, truly whatever position they want me to play I'm ready to go."

– #Vikings Guard Dalton Risner

📽️ @Vikings pic.twitter.com/xyyRdtALHa

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) October 15, 2024

It almost sounded like he was trying to secretly report a hostage situation. Yet, when today’s status report dropped… Risner was listed as OUT. Why?

That’s something we will have to wait to get the answer on, but if Dalton Risner isn’t injured anymore then why isn’t he being activated. There’s no doubt he has to be unhappy with today’s roster announcement. And don’t forget… the trade deadline is just a few weeks away.

Related: Kirk Cousins Sidesteps Question About Waiving No-Trade Clause

N’Keal Harry, Trishton Jackson elevated from practice squad

Replacing JJ and Mullins on the 53-man roster are (WR) N’Keal Harry and (WR) Trishton Jackson, who were both elevated from practice squad. (RB/KR) Kene Nwangwu has also been designated to return from IR.

The #Vikings have signed WR Dan Chisena, TE Troy Fumagalli and QB Sean Mannion to the practice squad.

RB Kene Nwangwu has been designated for return; returned to practice. pic.twitter.com/1YHnzJbE0m

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 11, 2023

Minnesota Vikings sign Sean Mannion and Dan Chisena to practice squad

The new practice squad QB is 31-year-old Sean Mannion, who backed-up Kirk Cousins for much of the three seasons between 2019 and 2022. Kevin O’Connell said, in his press conference, that rookie quarterback, Jaren Hall, will serve as Cousins’ QB2 on Sunday vs the Chicago Bears, but we will see how long that lasts.

Related: With Justin Jefferson Out, Who Will Step Up for Vikings… and Who Won’t?

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah also signed former Vikings special teamer and depth WR, Dan Chisena, to a practice squad contract. The 26-year-old Chisena appeared in double-digit games during both the Vikings’ 2020 and 2021 campaigns, but only got into 2 games in 2022. He was then released at the end of last season.

The final practice squad addition on the day was (TE) Troy Fumagalli, a 28-year-old former Wisconsin Badger who played 19 games between 2019 and 2020 with the Denver Broncos.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan