AUGUST 31: Quessenberry’s Vikings deal is official. To make room on their 53-man roster, the Vikes shuttled kick returner Kene Nwangwu to IR. Minnesota’s kick returner for the past two seasons, Nwangwu suffered a back injury that has forced him to miss multiple weeks of practice. The third-year running back has already ripped off three kick-return touchdowns. That is the most in the NFL over the past two seasons; only one other player (Nyheim Hines) has more than one in that span. The Vikings also signed Myles Gaskin to help on the running back depth front behind Alexander Mattison.
AUGUST 30: Beaten out for the Bills’ swing tackle position, David Quessenberry is on track to have another opportunity. The Vikings are planning to sign the veteran offensive lineman, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.
Quessenberry, 32, spent last season as Buffalo’s swing tackle. Rookie UDFA Ryan Van Demark, however, beat out the experienced blocker for the job. This will be an active-roster addition, Garafolo adds.
The Vikings have Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill in place at tackle. Oli Udoh replaced O’Neill when he went down late last season. The former Minnesota guard starter resides as the only backup tackle option on the team presently, but if Quessenberry passes a physical, that will soon change.
Best known for his AFC South work, Quessenberry has 26 career starts on his resume. Seventeen of those came for the 2021 Titans. As the Titans struggled to replace Jack Conklin, Quessenberry gave them a full season of starter work at right tackle. The team’s Isaiah Wilson whiff preceded its Dillon Radunz pick not producing a ready blocker, leading to Quessenberry taking over. A 2013 Texans sixth-round pick, Quessenberry will bring extensive experience to a Vikings team flush with homegrown O-linemen.
Only Minnesota and New Orleans boast starting O-lines housing five homegrown first- or second-round picks. O’Neill represents the longest-tenured Vikings blocker and their only big-ticket contract. He missed time to close last season. Quessenberry is set to join Udoh, Austin Schlottmann and Blake Brandel as Vikes backup blockers.
Good idea to never let him throw the football.
Quessenberry is used to throwing submarine style.
Quessenberry’s a turnstile.