Vikings Waiver Moves and Practice Squad

After announcing their 53 man roster yesterday and cutting many players, the Vikings offered a lucky seven at least the opportunity to practice with the Vikings the entire season, even though they will not suit up on game days. The Vikings practice squad is as follows:

• TE Chase Ford
• RB Joe Banyard
• OT Kevin Murphy
• DT Everett Dawkins
• OG Travis Bond
• WR Adam Thielen
• WR Rodney Smith

Ford, Banyard and Murphy are all returners to the unit. Of the three, Banyard probably pushed the hardest for a spot on the 53 with a nice showing in the fourth preseason game but in the end incumbent Matt Asiata will continue to warm the bench for Toby and AP. Dawkins and Bond are both seventh round picks from this year's draft, and both will likely spend a year adapting to the pro game before really having an opportunity to make the roster next year. Thielen and Smith are both undrafted rookie receivers who left enough of an impression on the coaching staff to at least have them stick around. Thielen is a great story as he played for the University of Minnesota-Mankato and thus actually got to practice during training camp on his old home field. Smith made only three catches the entire preseason, but had an average of 29 yards per catch and found the end zone one time as well.

Other notes from today:

• The Vikings claimed ex-Bears OT J'Marcus Webb off of waivers and as a result had to wave OT Troy Kropog to make room on their roster. A failed starter in Chicago, Webb should immediately step in as the Vikings' swing tackle and bring veteran depth in the (hopefully remote) chance any Vikings' lineman go down
• WR Stephen Burton was claimed by the Jaguars today after failing to make the Vikings' roster. Burton lost a tough competition for the last receiver spot on the team, and as he had no practice squad eligibility left he wasn't returning to Minnesota
• The Bills claimed ex-Vikings' cornerback Brandon Burton today. Burton had previously been on the Vikings' practice squad but wasn't considered to have much of chance to make the final roster.
• Outspoken punter Chris Kluwe, released by the Vikings earlier this offseason, was cut today by the Oakland Raiders after losing the punting battle there (yes, those do exist)
• Cornerback Bobby Felder was placed on IR today after not being claimed and not finding his way onto the practice squad. This has to be a disappointing offseason finish for Felder as before the last preseason game he was extremely close to locking up a roster spot over Marcus Sherels

Well, that's all (for now) on the Vikings' roster transactions, luckily that means it's almost real football time!

ONE WEEK MORE!!