Jalil Carter

Vikings Trim Roster To 75 Players

TUESDAY, 9:10am: The Vikings are now down to 75 players, having waived/injured quarterback Mike Kafka, according to the team (Twitter link). He’ll land on the team’s injured reserve list if he clears waivers.

MONDAY, 2:13pm: The Vikings have announced two more moves today, removing another two players from their active roster. According to a team release, Minnesota has waived/injured tackle Carter Bykowski, who will be out for the year with a pectoral injury, and placed cornerback Josh Robinson on the reserve/PUP list, meaning he’ll miss at least the first six weeks of the season.

SUNDAY, 6:30pm: The Vikings have moved closer to securing their 75-man roster, announcing that they’ve cut 11 players:

  • Joe Banyard, RB
  • Brandon Bostick, TE
  • Jalil Carter, CB
  • Justin Coleman, CB
  • DaVaris Daniels, WR
  • Stephen Goodin, OT
  • Josh Kaddu, LB
  • Jordan Leslie, WR
  • Caesar Rayford, DE
  • Chrishon Rose, DT
  • DeMarcus Van Dyke, CB

They currently have 78 men on the roster, and will need to cut an additional three players in time for the Tuesday deadline.

Minor Moves: Carter, Brown, Green

Today’s minor moves..

  • The Vikings announced (on Twitter) that they have signed cornerback Jalil Carter to a reserve/future free agent contract. Carter played for the Toronto Argonauts from 2012-2014 and drew considerable NFL interest this offseason. Carter auditioned for the Chiefs, Giants, Broncos, and other clubs over the last couple of months.
  • The Panthers announced (on Twitter) that they have signed former Jaguars wide receiver Mike Brown to a futures deal. Brown had seven catches for 88 yards for the Jags in 2014 prior to being dropped from the 53-man roster and subsequently re-signed to the taxi squad.
  • The Bills announced that they have signed defensive back Jonte Green and guard Darryl Johnson to futures deals. Green, a sixth round pick of the Lions in 2012, played 24 games with seven starts over the 2012 and 2013 seasons with the Lions and totaled 38 tackles, one sack, seven passes defensed and one interception. Johnson originally came into the NFL as a UDFA with the Chargers after last year’s draft.
  • The Steelers signed Mitchell Van Dyk to a future contract for 2015, according to Howard Balzer of USA Today Sports (on Twitter). Van Dyk, a tackle, was a 2014 draft pick of the Rams.

Workout Notes: Saturday

We’ll keep track of today’s workout information right here, as well as a couple of notes from the past couple of days. All of the information below is via the Baltimore Sun’s Aaron Wilson on Twitter

  • The Chiefs worked out wide receivers John Chiles and Cordell Roberson, cornerback Aaron Hester and defensive lineman Shawn Lemon.
  • The Chiefs also brought in defensive back Jalil Carter and wide receivers LaVon Brazill, Duron Carter and Joe Morgan. Brazill, a former sixth-round pick by the Colts, showed some flashes playing with Andrew Luck early in his career. Morgan was released by the Saints earlier this season, while Carter appears to have numerous suitors (with the Vikings seen as the favorite to sign him).
  • The Seahawks also brought in Lemon for a workout, and he joined quarterback Dominique Davis and cornerback Keon Lyn at the tryout. Wilson notes that defensive back Delvin Breaux was also brought in “for a visit.”
  • The Packers worked out CFL defensive back Jalil Carter. The former Akron standout briefly spend time with the Rams and in the AFL.
  • The Giants brought in five players for workouts: linebackers Terrance Bullitt and Phillip Hunt, safety Mistral Raymond, fullback Collin Mooney and tight end Michael Flacco.
  • The Steelers worked out a trio of offensive weapons: quarterback Aaron Smetanka, running back David Fluellen and wideout L’Damian Washington.

Workout Notes: Saturday

We’ll keep track of today’s workout information right here, as well as a couple of notes from yesterday…

  • Besides working out wideout Austin Pettis, the Chargers also worked out wide receiver John Chiles, tweets Aaron Wilson. The former Texas standout went undrafted in 2011, and he’s spent time in the CFL and with the Saints and Rams.
  • The Giants worked out a pair of former CFL players (via Wilson on Twitter): defensive back Jalil Carter and offensive lineman Brett Jones.

Workout Notes: Friday

Here is a list of the players working out with clubs, hoping to join a roster for the season’s home stretch:

  • The Jaguars worked three players, including former second-round pick Arrelious Benn, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). The team also worked out Tim McCornett and Chidera Uzo-Diribe.
  • The Raiders worked out former Saints’ receiver Joe Morgan earlier this week, but have also looked at Vernon Kearney and Marvin McNutt, reports Wilson (via Twitter).
  • The Dolphins tried out kicker Dustin Hopkins, reports Wilson (via Twitter)
  • The Falcons have worked out Lavelle Westbrooks, according to Wilson (via Twitter).
  • The Chiefs worked out Travis Chappalear, writes Wilson (via Twitter).
  • The Vikings worked out two players, Jordan McCray and Greg Van Roten, reports Wilson (via Twitter).
  • The Lions brought in Dejon Gomes for a workout, according to Wilson (via Twitter).
  • The Steelers brought Ronald Patrick in for a visit, writes Wilson (via Twitter).
  • Wilson doesn’t get to have all the fun, as Mike Klis of the Denver Post reports that the Broncos have worked out two defensive backs on Wednesday (via Twitter). They brought in Delvin Breaux and Jalil Carter, who played in the Canadian Football League.

Workout Notes: Wednesday

Today’s workouts, auditions, visits, pow-wows, get togethers, tryouts, and pop-ins..

  • The Raiders worked out former Saints wide receiver Joe Morgan, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
  • The Saints worked out offensive lineman Will Simmons and Andre Miller, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter).
  • The Buccaneers worked out linebacker Brandon Denmark, safety M.D. Jennings, and defensive back Jocquel Skinner , Wilson tweets. The Bucs also tried out defensive end Lawrence Sidbury, who wound up being signed to the active roster, and defensive back Varmah Sonie, who has joined their taxi squad.
  • Defensive end Sammy Brown visited the Buccaneers, according to Wilson (on Twitter).
  • The Seahawks worked out former Memphis defensive linemen Johnnie Farms, Marcus Forston, Rufus Johnson, Zach Minter, Brandon Moore, Will Pericak, Andru Pulu, and Jared Wheeler, according to Wilson (via Twitter).
  • The Cardinals tried out defensive end Shawn Lemon, wide receiver Jalil Carter, and defensive back Delvin Breaux, according to Wilson (on Twitter).

NFC North Notes: Peterson, Suh, Workouts

If Adrian Peterson is reinstated this season, Vikings ownership, GM Rick Spielman, and head coach Mike Zimmer will welcome him back, says Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune. However, for the running back to continue his career in Minnesota beyond this season, he will likely have to agree to take a pay cut, according to Hartman’s sources. Still, while there’s been plenty of speculation that the Vikes will simply part ways with Peterson prior to the 2015 season, that’s not necessarily the case — if the Pro Bowler is open to renegotiating his contract, there’s “no doubt” Minnesota wants to work something out and bring him back, per Hartman.

Here’s more from around the NFC North:

  • If the Lions end up losing Ndamukong Suh in free agency this offseason, the team should at least have a few strong options to consider in the first round of May’s draft, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “There’s some good ones, some real good defensive tackles or nose tackle types coming out,” ESPN’s Mel Kiper said today during his first pre-draft conference call for 2015.
  • In addition to hosting safety DeJon Gomes for a visit, the Lions also worked out cornerback Brandon Ghee, along with wide receivers Skye Dawson and Colin Lockett, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (all Twitter links).
  • Per Wilson (via Twitter), the Vikings also brought in a handful of free agents for tryouts this week, and Minnesota’s list of participants includes several under-the-radar names. Wide receiver Jalil Carter, defensive tackle Moton Hopkins, defensive back Johnny Sears, safety Garrett Waggoner, and safety Ian Wild auditioned for the club.
  • The Bears made a pair of roster moves earlier today, signing fullback Montell Owens and placing linebacker D.J. Williams on IR.