Not many practice squad updates the day before the first NFL Sunday of the 2023 season:
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: RB Myles Gaskin
- Released: WR Lucky Jackson
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DE Austin Bryant
- Released: K Matthew Wright
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.
Chicago Bears
Placed on IR:
- G Teven Jenkins (story)
Signed:
- WR Trent Taylor
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- LB Micah Baskerville, DL Travis Bell, FB Robert Burns, TE Stephen Carlson, OL Aviante Collins, LB DeMarquis Gates, DL Jalen Harris, OL Roy Mbaeteka, DB Greg Stroman, WR Nsimba Webster, DB Kendall Williamson
Detroit Lions
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Maurice Alexander, G Kayode Awosika, K Michael Badgley (story), WR Dylan Drummond, T Connor Galvin, S Brandon Joseph, RB Zonovan Knight, CB Chase Lucas, LB Trevor Nowaske, T Max Pircher, DL Chris Smith
Green Bay Packers
Claimed:
- DB Zayne Anderson, TE Ben Sims
Released:
- LB Tariq Carpenter, DL Jonathan Ford
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- TE Austin Allen, CB Corey Ballentine, LB Keshawn Banks, WR Grant DuBose, C James Empey, S Innis Gaines, QB Alex McGough, WR Bo Melton, LB Arron Mosby, LB Kenneth Odumegwu, FB Henry Pearson, S Benny Sapp III, DL Chris Slayton, RB Patrick Taylor, T Kadeem Telfort, CB Kiondre Thomas
Minnesota Vikings
Placed on IR:
- RB Kene Nwangwu
Claimed:
Waived:
- WR Jalen Reagor (story)
Signed to practice squad:
-
OL Alan Ali, CB C.J. Coldon, DT Sheldon Day, WR Trishton Jackson, WR Lucky Jackson, RB DeWayne McBride, DL T.J. Smith, WR Thayer Thomas, LB Luiji Vilain, LB Benton Whitley, CB Jaylin Williams, CB Joejuan Williams
Most of the Vikings’ roster moves were done ahead of the deadline, but today they did the rest of the work to get down to the 53-man roster. Here are the moves made today to reach the deadline:
Waived:
- OL Alan Adi
- WR Jacob Copeland
- RB Aaron Dykes
- WR Lucky Jackson
- WR Trishton Jackson
- RB DeWayne McBride
- DL Esezi Otomewo
- WR Blake Proehl
- TE Ben Sims
- DL T.J. Smith
- OL Jack Snyder
- WR Thayer Thomas
- OLB Luiji Vilain
- OLB Benton Whitley
- CB Jaylin Williams
Waived/injured:
- LB Abraham Beauplan
Released:
- LB Troy Reeder
- CB Joejuan Williams
A strong preseason performance by backup running back Ty Chandler and the returning prowess of Kene Nwangwu led to the disappointing cut of the seventh-round pick McBride. Besides that, there weren’t many surprises on the offensive side of the ball as the Vikings continually value consistency on the offensive line.
Minnesota needed to work out how to replace the production lost in the departure of pass rusher Za’Darius Smith. The opportunity led to a nice surprise as undrafted rookie Andre Carter II makes the initial 53. Carter is joined on the defensive side by undrafted linebacker Ivan Pace, who got plenty of run in camp as Brian Asamoah recovered from injury. Safety NaJee Thompson is the last undrafted rookie to find his way onto the roster thanks to his contributions on special teams.
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Jadakis Bonds
- Waived: TE Nick Guggemos
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Lucky Jackson
- Waived: DL Kenny Willekes
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: DT Robert Cooper
Jackson has toured North America’s non-NFL coalitions, playing in The Spring League, CFL and XFL over the past three years. Jackson played in The Spring League in 2021, was on the Edmonton Elks’ roster last year and was on the D.C. Defenders’ roster during the most recent XFL season. His 573 receiving yards ranked fifth in the XFL. Jackson played collegiately at Western Kentucky, finishing his Hilltoppers career with a 1,133-yard season in 2019. That season included 16- and 17-reception efforts. Jackson’s 209 catches rank second in program history. This will be his first NFL shot.