vikings/nfl
Dan Wiederer began covering the Vikings in 2011, enthusiastically delivering insight on the team across the Star Tribune's print and digital products. Prior to joining the Access Vikings team, he spent seven seasons covering ACC basketball at The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer. He also covered the Chicago Bears in 2003 and 2004. Follow him on Twitter @StribDW.
Mark Craig has covered football and the NFL the past 20 years, including the Browns from 1991-95 and the Vikings and the NFL since 2003. Since 2008, Craig has served as one of the 44 Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors. He can be followed on Twitter at @markcraignfl.
Posts about Vikings roster moves
Vikings add cornerback
Posted by: Mark Craig Updated: August 11, 2011 - 9:19 AM
The Vikings signed cornerback Tony Carter this morning.
Carter played college football at Florida State, and was undrafted in 2009 before signing with Denver as a free agent. He played two games for the Broncos, and was waived/injured at the end of training camp in 2010. The Patriots added him to their practice squad a week later. He was active for two games last season.
The Patriots released Carter two weeks ago.
The Vikings were a player shy after Marcell Gipson was cut earlier this week.
Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe is not practicing today. We'll have an update when practice ends at 11:30. It's the final practice at Mankato that is open to the media and the public. The team will stay over tonight, then leave tomorrow for Tennessee.
Tyrell Johnson to start at strong safety
Posted by: Updated: October 24, 2010 - 6:15 PMGREEN BAY, WIS. -- With Husain Abdullah out because of a concussion, Tyrell Johnson will start at strong safety for the Vikings in tonight's game against the Packers.
Johnson, a second-round pick in 2008, was the starter at the position last season for the Vikings but lost the job in training camp to Abdullah and had been inactive for the past three games. Jamarca Sanford also plays strong safety and coach Brad Childress said last Friday that he expected both Sanford and Johnson to play against the Packers.
As expected, center John Sullivan will return after not playing the past two games because of a calf injury. Childress indicated that Sullivan and Jon Cooper both could play tonight.
Antoine Winfield and Asher Allen will start at cornerback but Lito Sheppard is inactive after suffering a hand injury last Sunday against Dallas. Sheppard played in the nickel package and was on the field for all three Cowboys touchdown passes against. Rookie Chris Cook was on the field in the pregame warmups and is expected to return after missing the past two games because of a knee injury.
However, people with knowledge of the situation said the Vikings worked to get newcomer Frank Walker up to speed this week and that he could end up being used in the nickel to lessen Cook's workload.
The Vikings other inactives are Joe Webb (third quarterback); wide receiver Hank Baskett; running back Albert Young; linebacker Erin Henderson; offensive lineman Chris DeGeare; and defensive tackle Fred Evans.
Everson Griffen, a fourth-round pick by the Vikings last April, will be active for a game for the first time this season.
For the Packers, linebacker Clay Matthews (hamstring) and defensive lineman Ryan Pickett (ankle) are both active after being listed as questionable on the injury report. Right tackle Mark Tauscher (shoulder) is inactive and will be replaced by rookie Bryan Bulaga.
Green Bay's inactive list includes fullback Quinn Johnson; linebackers Brady Poppinga (knee), and Maurice Simpkins; offensive linemen Nick McDonald and Marshall Newhouse (back); and defensive ends Mike Neal (shoulder) and Michael Montgomery.
Vikings sign veteran corner Walker
Posted by: Updated: October 13, 2010 - 1:53 PMThe Vikings had Frank Walker in for a workout this morning at Winter Park and signed the cornerback once he passed a physical. Walker received a one-year deal for the veteran's minimum, which would be $755,000 for the full season.
Walker's addition gives the Vikings four healthy cornerbacks for Sunday's game against Dallas. The team is shorthanded with Cedric Griffin having been lost for the season in Monday's game against the Jets because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Chris Cook missed the game after having arthroscopic surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee. It's not certain if Cook will be able to play Sunday.
Walker, 5-11, 200 pounds, spent last season with the Baltimore Ravens and also has played for the Giants and Packers during his seven-year career. He is practicing with the Vikings today and wearing No. 41.
Walker, 29, appeared in 14 regular-season games for Baltimore last year and finished with one interception and four pass breakups. He started a game late in the regular season because of injuries in the secondary and also played in both the Ravens' playoff games, starting in the loss to Indianapolis.
The Ravens did not bring back Walker this season and he was not signed by a team. Walker worked out with New Orleans on Tuesday. He also had worked out for the Colts, Dolphins and Titans. The Bears expressed interest in Walker but did not bring him in for a workout.
Walker is a physical corner and might be best suited for man-to-man coverage. He also can play in nickel and dime defenses and contribute on special teams.
Cook to start at center; Moss at receiver
Posted by: Updated: October 11, 2010 - 6:34 PMEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Ryan Cook will make his first career start at center tonight in place of John Sullivan (calf) and newcomer Randy Moss will start at wide receiver in place of Bernard Berrian.
Cook replaced Sullivan in the Vikings' victory over Detroit on Sept. 26 and provided a solid performance. The fact Moss replaces Berrian comes as no surprise.
The Vikings' inactives include Sullivan; wide receiver Hank Baskett; safety Tyrell Johnson; cornerback Chris Cook (knee); running back Albert Young; defensive tackle Fred Evans; and defensive end Everson Griffen. Joe Webb is the third quarterback.
Johnson, the former starter at strong safety, will be inactive for a second consecutive game. There was some thought Young might be up for this game because of his ability to block and the fact the Jets bring so many different looks on the pass rush but that is not the case.
Jon Cooper is active tonight as the backup center to Cook.
The Jets inactives include running back Joe McKnight; linebackers Kenwin Cummings and Jamaal Westerman; offensive lineman Vladimir Ducasse; tight end Jeff Cumberland; and defensive linemen Marcus Dixon and Matt Kroul. The third quarterback is Kellen Clemens.
Vikings add offensive tackle to practice squad
Posted by: Updated: October 7, 2010 - 8:55 AMThe Vikings made a roster move this week that involved a wide receiver and no we're not talking about Randy Moss.
Former Gopher Logan Payne was released from the practice squad and the Vikings signed offensive tackle Andrew Gardner out of Georgia Tech. Gardner was a sixth-round pick of the Miami Dolphins in 2009. He was signed to the Baltimore Ravens practice squad after being let go by Miami.
Gardner becomes the third offensive lineman on the Vikings practice squad joining guard Seth Olsen and tackle Thomas Welch.
Payne, by the way, had been wearing No. 84. That number now will be worn by Moss.
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