The Vikings on Sunday added a pair of players — one of them a former Gopher — to their 53-man roster and brought back to their practice squad nine players they released Saturday.
The Vikings were awarded MarQueis Gray, who played quarterback and wide receiver for the Gophers but is now a tight end, off waivers from Cleveland. He played for the Browns a season ago, when current Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner was their offensive coordinator.
In four years at the University of Minnesota, Gray passed for 2,053 yards and 14 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He also rushed for 1,731 yards and 12 touchdowns, and caught six touchdowns passes. He went undrafted after his final collegiate season in 2012.
"It's official I'm a Viking!! I'm coming [h]ome thank you lord!!" Gray tweeted Sunday afternoon.
Gray played 12 games for the Browns in 2013, lining up at both tight end and fullback. He had two catches for eight yards and six carries for 43 yards. He made two starts.
The addition of Gray gives the Vikings a third tight end to go along with Kyle Rudolph and Rhett Ellison.
The Vikings also claimed former San Diego Chargers tackle Michael Harris off waivers. Harris played 20 games for the Chargers the past two seasons, starting 12 of them. He will back up starting tackles Matt Kalil and Phil Loadholt.
To make room for Gray and Harris, the Vikings waived linebacker Larry Dean and tackle Austin Wentworth.
The players the Vikings added to the practice squad were running back Joe Banyard, wide receivers Kain Colter and Donte Foster, defensive tackle Isame Faciane, tight end Chase Ford, cornerback Kendall James, center Zac Kerin, tackle Mike Remmers and defensive end Justin Trattou. The Vikings have one open spot on their 10-man practice squad and are expected to fill it Monday.