The Vikings announced that they have officially opened the 21-day practice window for outside linebacker Tyler Batty and fullback C.J. Ham. Both players opened the season on injured reserve, and the Vikings will now have three weeks to activate them. Head coach Kevin O’Connell indicated either could come back as early as this Sunday’s game in London against the Browns.
Batty, an undrafted rookie from BYU, suffered a right knee injury in the Vikings’ preseason finale against the Titans on Aug. 22. A first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2024, Batty played five seasons at BYU and tallied 16.5 sacks over 53 games. The 6-foot-5, 261-pounder appeared in 13 contests last season and totaled 59 tackles (seven for loss), two interceptions and 1.5 sacks.
If Batty debuts this week, he’ll give the Vikings some depth on the outside behind Dallas Turner, who’s filling in for the injured Andrew Van Ginkel. After missing the Vikings’ loss to the Steelers last week with a neck injury, Van Ginkel is likely to sit out again on Sunday.
Ham, 32, also missed the team’s first four games with a knee issue. Now a ninth-year Viking, Ham is the team’s second-longest-tenured player behind safety Harrison Smith. While Ham only received seven touches last year (two carries, five catches), he played over 23 percent of offensive snaps and about 63 percent on special teams. The 32-year-old helped pave the way for an 1,100-yard season from running back Aaron Jones.
With Jones on IR since mid-September with a hamstring injury, Jordan Mason has taken over as the Vikings’ starting RB. The former 49er has racked up 271 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 56 carries – good for an average of 4.8 per rush.