Latest On Vikings Rookies Lewis Cine, Andrew Booth
The Vikings used their top two selections in this year’s draft to bolster their secondary, though the prospects they landed may not be seeing major snaps right away. According to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, neither safety Lewis Cine nor cornerback Andrew Booth are likely to play starting roles to begin the season. 
Cine went No. 32 overall, the slot Minnesota took over as a result of their swap with the Lions which allowed Detroit to move up to the 12th position. The fifth and final member of Georgia’s elite defense to hear their name called on Day 1, Cine was a key contributor on the backend for the Bulldogs throughout his three-year college career.
Taking a step forward with each successive campaign, the six-foot-one, 200-pounder totaled 73 tackles last season, adding an interception and nine pass breakups. Known more for his physicality than his range or ball skills (dropping him below the likes of Kyle Hamilton and Daxton Hill in the position’s draft rankings), Cine has been competing with 2021 fourth-rounder Camryn Bynum for a first-team role. It appears the latter will get the nod to partner with Harrison Smith at least to start the season.
Booth was also selected in the wake of a trade, but in his case, the Vikings moved up to secure him. Hernia surgery may have hurt his draft stock, as he was considered a borderline first-rounder, but the Clemson product is healthy in time for Week 1. He registered 37 tackles (including three for a loss), along with five passes defensed in his final year with the Tigers.
He also ranked tied for second in the ACC with three interceptions, showcasing his ball skills which, combined with his athletic profile, give him a high upside. Instead of Booth, though, the Vikings are poised to use 2020 third-rounder Cameron Dantzler (who almost found himself being traded last offseason) as a bookend to Patrick Peterson on the perimeter.
The Vikings’ pass defense ranked 28th last season, allowing 253 yards per game through the air. While that makes their commitments to Cine and Booth understandable, familiar faces will prevent them from seeing full-time duty to start their respective careers.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/1/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Devon Kennard, S Steven Parker, S Josh Thomas, OL Badara Traore
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: TE Anthony Firkser, TE Tucker Fisk, CB Ka’Dar Hollman
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: QB Zach Davidson, DB Kyler McMichael, OL Ryan Van Demark
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: QB Jacob Eason, WR C.J. Sanders
- Released: S Kenny Robinson
Chicago Bears
- Signed: OL Kellen Diesch, LB Joe Thomas
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: RB Qadree Ollison, C Dakoda Shepley
Denver Broncos
- Signed: G William Sherman
Detroit Lions
- Signed: K Aldrick Rosas
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: TE Shaun Beyer, CB Benjie Franklin, WR Juwann Winfree
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: G Arlington Hambright, LB Segun Olubi
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: K James McCourt
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: LB Cole Christiansen
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: OL Vitaliy Gurman, DB J.R. Reed
- Released: OT Bamidele Olaseni
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: CB Kalon Barnes, OT Larnel Coleman, WR River Cracraft, OL James Empey, LB Cameron Goode, LB Porter Gustin, S Verone McKinley III, WR Braylon Sanders, DT Niles Scott, DT Ben Stille, WR Freddie Swain, RB ZaQuandre White
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: QB David Blough, CB Tay Gowan, WR Travis Toivonen
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR Lynn Bowden Jr.
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: TE JP Holtz, LB Drew Desjarlais, DL Christian Ringo
New York Giants
- Signed: OL Wyatt Davis, OL Max Garcia, DB Tony Jefferson, DE Henry Mondeaux, WR Kalil Pimpleton, LB Charles Wiley
- Released: DB Darren Evans, OT Roy Mbaeteka, OT Garrett McGhin, DB Nate Meadors
New York Jets
- Signed: CB Craig James, LB Chazz Surratt
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB Davion Taylor
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Mark Gilbert
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Xavier Crawford, OL Jalen McKenzie, QB Sean Mannion
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: CB Anthony Chesley
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: TE Kevin Rader
- Released: WR Reggie Roberson, TE David Wells
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/1/22
Teams continue to tinker with their rosters after hundreds of players were cut earlier this week. We’ve tracked all of today’s minor moves below:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Stephen Anderson, LS Aaron Brewer, CB Mike Ford, G Colby Gossett, LB Nick Kwiatkoski, S Dean Marlowe
- Placed on IR: S Charles Washington, WR Antoine Wesley
- Waived from IR: OL Greg Long
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DT Abdullah Anderson,
- Placed on IR: DL Marlon Davidson, TE John Fitzpatrick, LB Deion Jones, OL Jalen Mayfield, CB Isaiah Oliver
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived from IR: DT Aaron Crawford
Chicago Bears
- Claimed off waivers (from Vikings): WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
- Placed on IR: WR N’Keal Harry
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: WR Mike Thomas
- Placed on IR: DE Khalid Kareem
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DB C.J. Goodwin, LS Jake McQuaide
- Placed on IR: OT Tyron Smith, WR James Washington
Denver Broncos
- Signed: CB Darius Phillips, DT Mike Purcell, TE Eric Tomlinson
- Released: DB Essang Bassey
- Placed on IR: TE Greg Dulcich, CB Michael Ojemudia
- Released from IR: CB Donnie Lewis
Green Bay Packers
- Released from IR: WR Danny Davis
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on IR: LB Trevor Denbow
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Claimed off waivers (from Bears): LB Caleb Johnson
- Released: DL Adam Gotsis
- Reverted to IR: K Jake Verity
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: LB Daniel Hardy
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on IR: S Clayton Fejedelem
- Released from IR: CB Mackensie Alexander, DB D’Angelo Ross
New England Patriots
- Placed on IR: WR Tyquan Thornton
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: RB Dwayne Washington
- Placed on IR: OT Trevor Penning, DL Malcolm Roach
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Austin Calitro, TE Tanner Hudson, DL Nick Williams
- Claimed off waivers (from Ravens): G Tyre Phillips
- Placed on IR: OL Shane Lemieux, DE Elerson Smith, CB Rodarius Williams
- Released from IR: TE Dre Miller, TE Ricky Seals-Jones
New York Jets
- Signed: S Marcell Harris
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Claimed off waivers (from Jaguars): LB Jamir Jones
- Released: LB Derrek Tuszka
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: TE Tyler Kroft, DE Jordan Willis
- Placed on IR: LB Curtis Robinson, S Jimmie Ward
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Justin Coleman
- Placed on IR: DL LJ Collier
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on IR: C Ryan Jensen
- Waived/injured: WR Cyril Grayson Jr.
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Cody Hollister
- Placed on IR: WR Racey McMath
Latest On Jets WR Denzel Mims
Despite his trade request last week, wideout Denzel Mims remained on the Jets as teams set their 53-man rosters. Speaking with reporters today, Mims expressed frustration at his situation and reiterated his desire to start.
“I feel like I already pretty much [showed I could start], from OTAs until now,” Mims said (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini). “I mean, they’re pretty set on who they want.
“I feel like, yeah, I feel like [the coaches] have made their mind up, honestly. But I feel like I can change their mind on that. I feel like I’ve been doing that. Their minds are pretty made up, though.”
Mims also mentioned that he expects to be inactive for the Jets Week 1 contest against the Ravens, and he noted that he doesn’t have any issues playing special teams. However, the receiver made it clear that he wants to play, something that probably won’t be possible when he’s behind a deep wide receiver group of Corey Davis, Elijah Moore, Braxton Berrios, and rookie Garrett Wilson. Those frustrations have led the organization to surmise that Mims doesn’t necessarily want to play elsewhere.
“I wouldn’t say he wants to be somewhere else; he wants to play,” GM Joe Douglas said. “He wants to start. Denzel is very confident. He has voiced that, that he wants to be a starter. Ultimately, you want a team full of guys that feel like they should be the No. 1 guy.”
While the Jets didn’t end up trading the former second-round pick, they still fielded calls on the wideout. According to Connor Hughes of SNYtv (on Twitter), the Vikings, Cowboys, Seahawks, and Panthers were among the teams that reached out to the Jets. However, New York was seeking a fourth-round pick in return for the receiver, and no team was willing to meet that asking price.
Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC North
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Bears, Lions, Packers and Vikings moves are noted below.
Here are Wednesday’s NFC North transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.
Chicago Bears
Claimed:
- DB Josh Blackwell (from Eagles), DL Kingsley Jonathan (from Bills), OL Alex Leatherwood (from Raiders), DL Armon Watts (from Vikings), LB Sterling Weatherford (from Colts), TE Trevon Wesco (from Jets) (story)
Released:
- LB Joe Thomas
Waived:
- LB Caleb Johnson, CB Duke Shelley, G Zachary Thomas, DT Khyiris Tonga
Placed on IR:
- WR Tajae Sharpe
Signed to practice squad:
- TE Chase Allen, C Dieter Eiselen, RB Darrynton Evans, CB Thomas Graham Jr., DL Sam Kamara, QB Nathan Peterman
Detroit Lions
Claimed:
- DT Benito Jones (from Bills)
Waived:
Released from IR:
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Maurice Alexander, LB Jarrad Davis, TE Derrick Deese, T Obinna Eze, TE Garrett Griffin, DL Bruce Hector, LB James Houston, RB Justin Jackson, WR Tom Kennedy, CB A.J. Parker, LB Anthony Pittman, T Dan Skipper, CB Saivion Smith
Green Bay Packers
Signed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- QB Danny Etling, WR Travis Fulgham, CB Rico Gafford, RB Tyler Goodson, LB La’Darius Hamilton, DL Jack Heflin, T Caleb Jones, LB Kobe Jones, DL Chris Slayton, RB Patrick Taylor, CB Kiondre Thomas, LB Ray Wilborn, WR Juwann Winfree
Minnesota Vikings
Waived:
Eagles To Trade WR Jalen Reagor To Vikings
Despite Jalen Reagor ending up on the Eagles’ 53-man roster Tuesday, he will not play a third season with the team. The Vikings will acquire the former first-round pick, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
Philly is parting ways with the third-year wideout for a 2023 seventh-round pick and a conditional 2024 pick. The latter selection will either be a fourth- or fifth-rounder. Reagor came up in trade rumors fairly consistently this offseason, and the Eagles are moving on. Two years remain on Reagor’s rookie deal.
[RELATED: Eagles Acquire DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson From Saints]
Two years ago, the Eagles faced a decision between TCU’s Reagor and LSU’s Justin Jefferson. The room was believed to be split, but Reagor won out. The Vikings took Jefferson. That move worked out pretty well. Minnesota, which has seen Jefferson rocket to the Pro Bowl tier quickly, now has both the 2020 first-rounders.
Reagor will be expected to fill in behind the likes of Jefferson and Adam Thielen. The Vikings also have 2020 draftee K.J. Osborn, who is ticketed to again be their No. 3 wideout. The Vikings did just lose Bisi Johnson to a season-ending ACL tear.
Although Reagor showed some promise in his third Eagles training camp, he has come in far below expectations during game action. Reagor failed to exceed 400 receiving yards in each of his two seasons, missing time with an injury as a rookie and seeing the Eagles add at the position (DeVonta Smith) and shift to a run-heavy attack in 2021. Philly made a considerable effort to upgrade its receiving corps this year. After pursuing Christian Kirk and Allen Robinson, the Eagles acquired A.J. Brown during the draft and gave him a monster guarantee. The addition of former Nick Sirianni Colts charge Zach Pascal may have made a bigger impact on Reagor’s standing.
For his career, Reagor has 64 receptions for 699 yards and three touchdowns. Inconsistency has plagued the second-generation NFLer, however, and the Vikings will try to coax supporting-cast production from the once-coveted Big 12 prospect. Reagor, 23, delivered his best college season as a sophomore — a 1,061-yard, nine-touchdown campaign — before posting 611 yards in 12 junior-year games. The 5-foot-11 talent, who ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at the 2020 Combine, still became a top receiver prize in a loaded draft, going 21st overall.
Teetering on the bust cliff, Reagor should at least enjoy a friendlier situation in Minnesota. Carson Wentz struggled mightily during his final Philly season, and Jalen Hurts‘ first starter year turned the Eagles into a smashmouth force. Kirk Cousins certainly is not a top-tier quarterback, but he has proven more consistent as a passer than the QBs Reagor has played with as an Eagle. New Vikes HC Kevin O’Connell will attempt to salvage the downtrodden target.
Seahawks Plan To Add QB Sean Mannion To Practice Squad
Sean Mannion spent part of last year’s training camp with the Seahawks, and the veteran backup quarterback agreed to return to the team Wednesday.
Seattle is adding the recent Minnesota backup to its practice squad, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The Vikings had shown interest in keeping Mannion on their P-squad, but the team essentially demoted him by trading for Nick Mullens this month. Mullens made Minnesota’s active roster, while Mannion and 2021 third-rounder Kellen Mond were cut Tuesday.
The Seahawks cut Mannion last year, and he found his way back to the Vikings’ QB2 role. But this partnership looks a bit different a year later. Going into their 2021 preseason, the Seahawks had Russell Wilson still riding a nine-season run of perfect attendance. Wilson, who missed his first NFL games last season, is now with the Broncos. Despite being connected to Baker Mayfield and Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason, the Seahawks are planning to use Geno Smith as their starter.
Wilson’s former backup beat out Drew Lock for the starting gig. Mannion would stand to step in behind this duo, though the Seahawks also cut Jacob Eason on Tuesday. Eason, a Washington alum, caught on with the team via an October 2021 waiver claim.
Despite being a former third-round pick, Mannion has never made inroads to being a starter in the NFL. He backed up Jared Goff primarily with the Rams and played behind Kirk Cousins with the Vikings. Mannion, 30, has started three career games. Two of those came in meaningless Week 17 situations; the third came after Cousins tested positive for COVID-19 last season. The Oregon State alum holds a 61% career completion rate but has one TD pass compared to three INTs.
Browns Claim QB Kellen Mond
Ahead of what will be a historically unusual quarterback season in Cleveland, the Browns added a recent Day 2 pick to their equation. Kellen Mond will head to Cleveland as a waiver claim, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
The Vikings waived the 2021 third-round pick Tuesday, but Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press notes the team was planning to bring him back on its practice squad if he cleared waivers (Twitter link). The Browns interrupted that process and are adding the Texas A&M product to an active roster that features Jacoby Brissett and Joshua Dobbs.
Mond did not particularly impress the Vikings regime that drafted him, and his issues this offseason undoubtedly led the new Minnesota staff to trade for Nick Mullens. The Browns are offering another developmental opportunity. Brissett is in place as the fill-in for Deshaun Watson, whose 11-game suspension began Tuesday, and Dobbs beat out Josh Rosen for the backup job. Mond will be in place to train behind the veterans.
In his final season with the Aggies, Mond set a new career-high mark in completion percentage (63.3%), and passer rating (146.9). The multiyear Aggies starter, however, only came to Minnesota after the team’s push to trade up for Justin Fields failed. Despite Mond’s draft status, the Vikings still brought back veteran backup Sean Mannion this offseason. He and Mond split reps in camp, leading to the Mullens trade. Mullens spent last season with the Browns.
Vikings Move Down To 53
Here is how the Vikings finalized their initial 53-man roster Tuesday:
Released:
- CB Nate Hairston
- QB Sean Mannion (story)
- CB Parry Nickerson
Waived:
- S Mike Brown
- WR Dan Chisena
- TE Zach Davidson
- G Wyatt Davis
- S Myles Dorn
- G Kyle Hinton
- WR Trishton Jackson
- RB Bryant Kobeck
- LB William Kwenkeu
- LB Blake Lynch
- LB Zach McCloud
- QB Kellen Mond (story)
- TE Nick Muse
- LB Janarius Robinson
- DL T.J. Smith
- C Josh Sokol
- DL Jalen Twyman
- DL Armon Watts
Waived/injured:
Beyond the previously covered quarterback situation, the Watts departure is Minnesota’s most notable cut. The 2019 sixth-round pick started nine games last season, moving into the lineup after Michael Pierce‘s injury. The Vikings cut Pierce this offseason, though Watts did not profile as a pure nose tackle. He was also drafted to play in a different scheme.
Minnesota hired a new DC this offseason (Ed Donatell), and the team acquired former Texans second-round defensive tackle pick Ross Blacklock on Tuesday. The Vikes had also added veteran Jonathan Bullard this offseason. These moves appear to have affected Watts’ status, as does the Vikings keeping only six D-linemen. They retained 10 after 2021’s cutdown day. Some of the changes can be attributed to classification, with edge defenders classified as outside linebackers in 3-4 sets. Watts also carried a $2.5MM cap charge, allowing Minnesota to save some decent money.
The Davis cut represents a quick bailout on a 2021 third-round pick. One of two guard Davises the Vikes shipped out Tuesday (along with Jesse, whom they traded to the Steelers), Wyatt — an Ohio State alum — played in six games last season and did not log an offensive snap. In addition to drafting Ed Ingram in the second round this year, the Vikings signed veteran interior linemen Chris Reed and Austin Schlottmann.
Steelers To Acquire OL Jesse Davis From Vikings
Another trade for the Steelers is going down. Hours after acquiring Malik Reed from the Broncos, the Steelers are landing Jesse Davis from the Vikings, per Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (via Twitter).
Davis had seen second-round rookie Ed Ingram move into position to leapfrog him on the Vikes’ depth chart. The veteran will head to a team with more questions up front. Pittsburgh also released veteran O-lineman Joe Haeg on Tuesday, Garafolo adds (on Twitter). The Steelers will send a conditional 2025 seventh-rounder to the Vikings, Rapoport tweets.
Minnesota signed Davis earlier this year, bringing him in on a one-year deal worth $3MM ($2.75MM guaranteed). The Vikings also signed former Colts and Panthers blocker Chris Reed and drafted Ingram. While Davis began Vikings training camp as the frontrunner to start at right guard, Ingram progressed to the point the team did not require a stopgap.
This marks another Steelers move to land an ex-Viking (technically) O-lineman. Although Davis did not end up playing with the Vikings, ex-Minnesota center Mason Cole is positioned to start in Pittsburgh. So is ex-Bears guard James Daniels. The Steelers had held a Kevin Dotson–Kendrick Green competition at left guard, with Dotson expected to keep his job. Davis does bring veteran insurance, having spent extensive time at both guard and tackle in Miami. It would also not surprise if he is starting for the Steelers soon. That has been his primary role.
Davis, who turns 31 next month, has been a starter for the past five seasons. Although he spent time on practice squads prior to making a leap into Miami’s front five in 2017, the former UDFA has made 72 starts in that span. He worked as Ja’Wuan James‘ primary successor at right tackle in recent years but played alongside James at right guard as well. The Dolphins used Davis at left tackle at points as well, but the right side represented his primary domain.