Xazavian Valladay News - MinnesotaSportsFan https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/tag/xazavian-valladay/ Minnesota sports, but different Tue, 23 Sep 2025 21:03:05 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=32,height=32,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/cropped-cropped-MSF-favicon-1.jpg Xazavian Valladay News - MinnesotaSportsFan https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/tag/xazavian-valladay/ 32 32 Minnesota Vikings Sign New RB, Activate Top WR https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-vikings/jordan-addison-activated-corey-kiner-signed-practice-squad-release/ Tue, 23 Sep 2025 21:02:59 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=68793 It’s a big week for the Minnesota Vikings as they look to carry the momentum from their commanding victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Not only do they need Carson Wentz to continue looking like a quality signal caller, but they have to do so while traveling overseas.

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.

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.

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.

]]> Tue, 23 Sep 2025 16:03:05 +0000 Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings Sign Two New Players; Cut Linebacker https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-vikings/sign-xazavian-valladay-zack-bailey-waive-max-tooley/ Tue, 19 Aug 2025 17:35:07 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=66938 The roster shuffle continues for the Minnesota Vikings. They don’t have to cut the roster down to 53 players until August 26th at 3pm central time. That gives them additional flexibility for their final preseason game on Saturday against the Tennessee Titans.

Right now Kevin O’Connell’s team is dealing with a seemingly never ending number of key injuries. Justin Jefferson just returned to practice, but Andrew Van Ginkel and Harrison Smith are remained sidelined. Jalen Nailor is also hurt and Jordan Addison’s suspension will kick in on week one.

Offensive additions force MN Vikings to cut on defense

As the team considers all of its options, and scours the market for depth at multiple positions, moves on the fringes of the roster are only getting started.

Tuesday, we saw some preliminary Minnesota Vikings roster news. Via social media and on their website, the team announced two roster additions on offense, o-lineman Zack Bailey and running back Xazavian Valladay. To make room for these new Vikings, linebacker Max Tooley was waived.

It’s highly unlikely that either of these additions make the 53-man roster. However, both should see real run in a final preseason game that will be largely played by third string talent.

Meet new MN Vikings running back, Xazavian Valladay

It doesn’t appear that the Vikings are set on Ty Chandler as their third running back. While that job is probably Zavier Scott’s, already — if Chandler is indeed on his way out — but there is a lot of room on the MN Vikings practice squad, not to mention other practice squads around the league.

That’s why it wouldn’t surprise me if 3x 1000 yard collegiate back (Arizona State and Wyoming) Xazavian Valladay gets 15-20 carries on Friday. What he does with those carries, and his professional football career, from there is all up to him.

Valladay isn’t a rookie, though. The 2023 UDFA has graced the extended roster of four different teams, prior to arriving in Minnesota. He spent most of last season on the New Orleans Saints practice squad last season.

Meet new Vikings O-lineman, Zack Bailey

Zack Bailey joins an offensive line that is now among the most expensive in the NFL. The Vikings revamped the interior of the group this offseason in order to better protect its most important asset, 2024 No. 10 overall pick, J.J. McCarthy, as well as open up wider holes for a revamped running game.

This isn’t Bailey’s first stop in Minnesota. He was on the Vikings’ practice squad in 2020, and remained on the roster for part of the 2021 offseason. Unlike Bailey, Valladay has an opportunity to make some real noise in the final preseason game.

Related: Vikings Set Up for Draft Upgrade After QB Rental Wins Starting Job

It was always going to be tough for a guy like Tooley to crack a role on Brian Flores’ defense. The front seven has been called the best in the league and is living up to the hype. Former first round pick Dallas Turner is even fighting for linebacker reps due to the quality at the top.

The Vikings kick off the regular season on Monday Night Football against the Chicago Bears. They’ll be under the lights at Soldier Field on September 8.

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