In their first football-related announcement in a while, the Vikings said today that they have waived defensive end Spencer Nealy and replaced him on their 90-man roster with tight end Mike Higgins.

Higgins, 26, played four total games for the Saints in 2011 and 2012, including one start. He has two career catches for one yard. The 6-foot-5, 242-pound tight end was originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of Nebraska-Omaha in 2011. The Saints cut him after last preseason.

Nealy, 24, spent time on the Vikings' practice squad last year, but he was never elevated to their active roster during his first professional season. The defensive end was recently suspended four games by the NFL for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Higgins is expected to report to Mankato tomorrow along with the rest of the Vikings players.