The Vikings continued making roster moves Saturday, a day after the initial NFL deadline came to cut rosters to 53 players. Most notably, veteran cornerback Zack Bowman was waived to make room for A.J. Jefferson, the third-year defensive back whom the Vikings acquired Friday in a trade with Arizona for undisclosed future draft compensation.
The Vikings also claimed rookie tackle Mark Asper off waivers and released Pat Brown. Asper, a rookie out of Oregon, spent training camp with the Buffalo Bills. Brown, who joined the Vikings as a practice squad player in 2009, had a subpar preseason and was particularly shaky in Thursday's preseason finale at Houston.
Meanwhile, four players whom the Vikings waived Friday have been brought back to join the practice squad. Running back Jordan Todman, cornerback Bobby Felder, defensive tackle Chase Baker and guard Tyler Holmes all will remain with the Vikings in that capacity.
The team won't announce its other practice squad players until Sunday, once those players have had a chance to pass physicals. Receiver Tori Gurley, who was in camp this summer with the Packers, tweeted Saturday that he will be headed for the Vikings practice squad, leaving three other openings.
Todman's ability to hang around will give the Vikings added depth potential in their backfield. The second-year running back rushed for 114 yards on 10 carries Thursday against Houston after missing much of the preseason because of a sprained ankle.
Felder, whom the team signed as an undrafted free agent, impressed the Vikings throughout the offseason and training camp and is a promising player they would like to take a crack at grooming further.
The Vikings secondary will have plenty of room to grow in the team's promised youth movement. The release of the 27-year-old Bowman came a day after the Vikings parted ways with fellow cornerback Chris Carr, 29.
Take Antoine Winfield, 35, out of the mix, and nine of the other 10 defensive backs on the team's 53-man roster are 25 or younger.
