Here is a set of rare Saturday practice squad transactions from today:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: WR Isaiah Coulter, CB Jordan Miller, QB James Morgan
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: TE Nick Muse
- Released: DT Sheldon Day
The Vikings are set to receive a nice boost to their passing offense just in time for the playoffs as the team plans to activate tight end Irv Smith from injured reserve, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. In order to make room for Smith on the roster, the Vikings have waived tight end Nick Muse. 
Coming off a meniscus tear that would cost him the entire 2021 season, Smith’s role as a starter diminished this year as the Vikings would favor starting better run blockers in Johnny Mundt and Ben Ellefson. Still, Smith led the team’s position group in receiving yards and touchdowns until suffering an ankle injury in a Week 8 win over the Cardinals that would land him on IR. Smith’s injury would lead Minnesota to send a 2023 second-round pick and a 2024 third-round pick to Detroit in exchange for tight end T.J. Hockenson, a 2023 fourth-round pick, and a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick.
The return of Smith makes an already-potent Vikings offense even more formidable. In addition to a running game led by Dalvin Cook and supplemented by Alexander Mattison, quarterback Kirk Cousins has an array of pass-catching weapons that includes Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, K.J. Osborn, Hockenson, and Smith.
Smith is set to hit free agency this offseason. If he wishes to remain in Minnesota past this year, Smith will need to show that he can earn targets in a crowded group of receivers. With Hockenson signed through next year, Smith will have to prove to the Vikings that he is worth Minnesota paying two pass-catching tight ends.
Muse’s rookie season comes to an end after failing to register one snap on offense for the Vikings this year. A seventh-round pick this year, Muse appeared solely on special teams in what would end up being a crowded, but injured, tight ends room. If he clears waivers, the Vikings can sign him to the practice squad and, eventually, a futures contract.
The league’s minor moves leading up to gameday:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: RB Corey Clement
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted from practice squad: OL Ryan Neuzil, WR Frank Darby
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Daryl Worley
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Tanner Gentry, CB Xavier Rhodes
Chicago Bears
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Darrynton Evans
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted from practice squad: G Dakoda Shepley
Detroit Lions
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Stanley Berryhill
- Waived: S JuJu Hughes
Houston Texans
- Activated from IR: Michael Dwumfour
- Promoted from practice squad: DB Jacobi Francis, DB Will Redmond
- Waived: DL Jaleel Johnson
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Kameron Cline, TE Nikola Kalinic
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Marcus Kemp, WR Cornell Powell
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Tyler Hall
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from NFI: TE Stone Smartt
- Signed to active roster: DL Joe Gaziano
- Promoted from practice squad: K Cameron Dicker, T Foster Sarell
- Waived: WR Keelan Doss
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed to active roster: WR Jacob Harris
- Promoted from practice squad: T AJ Arcuri, G Jeremiah Kolone
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed to active roster: TE Nick Muse
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Tay Gowan
- Waived: OLB Benton Whitley
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: G Yasir Durant, DB Bryce Thompson
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Jabari Zuniga
- Waived: TE J.P. Holtz, Nick Vannett
New York Giants
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Lawrence Cager
New York Jets
- Promoted from practice squad: DL Tanzel Smart, OL Conor McDermott
Washington Commanders
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Nathan Gerry
- Placed on IR: TE Armani Rogers
Here are the minor roster moves in anticipation for Sunday’s slate of games:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from IR: S Charles Washington
- Promoted from practice squad: OL Rashaad Coward
Chicago Bears
- Promoted from practice squad: OLB Gerri Green, CB Harrison Hand
Denver Broncos
- Promoted from practice squad: T Quinn Bailey, DE Jonathan Harris
Detroit Lions
- Activated from reserve/PUP: FB Jason Cabinda
- Signed to active roster: TE Shane Zylstra
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Stanley Berryhill, LB Jarrad Davis
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted from practice squad: K Ramiz Ahmed, LB Ladarius Hamilton
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted from practice squad: S Ugochukwu Amadi
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Kyle Peko
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed to active roster: RB Larry Rountree
- Promoted from practice squad: K Cameron Dicker, T Foster Sarell
Miami Dolphins
- Signed to active roster: S Verone McKinley III
- Promoted from practice squad: T Kion Smith
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Nick Muse
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: G Josh Andrews
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Jordan Howard, CB Bryce Thompson
New York Giants
- Activated of reserve/PUP: T Matt Peart
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Lawrence Cager, DL Henry Mondeaux
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted from practice squad: DT T.Y. McGill
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Vi Jones
- Placed on IR: FB/OLB Cullen Gillaspia
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Ulysees Gilbert, CB Ryan Smith
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted from practice squad: DL Larrell Murchison, WR C.J. Board
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted: P Nolan Cooney, DL Manny Jones
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted: S Marquise Blair, RB Spencer Brown
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed to active roster: DT Domenique Davis
- Promoted: CB Allan George, WR Trenton Irwin
- Placed on IR: CB Chidobe Awuzie (story)
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: WR Stanley Berryhill
- Promoted: WR Brandon Zylstra, TE Shane Zylstra
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted: RB Phillip Lindsay, RB Jordan Wilkins
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted: K Cameron Dicker, WR Keelan Doss, CB Kemon Hall
- Placed on IR: TE Donald Parham Jr.
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed to active roster: OL Chandler Brewer
- Promoted: TE Jared Pinkney, RB Ronnie Rivers
- Activated from IR: LB Travin Howard
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted: OT Kion Smith
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted: WR Dan Chisena, TE Nick Muse
New York Jets
- Signed to active roster: TE Kenny Yeboah
- Promoted: T Conor McDermott
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted: LB Josh Onujiogu
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted: QB Logan Woodside, DT Larrell Murchison
Washington Commanders
- Promoted: FB Alex Armah, LB Nathan Gerry
Here are the roster moves for today, leading into gameday tomorrow. Reminder that gameday elevations will revert to the practice squad after this weekend’s games:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from IR: CB Antonio Hamilton
- Signed to active roster: WR Andre Baccellia
- Promoted from practice squad: K Matt Ammendola, S Chris Banjo
- Placed on IR: LB Nick Vigil
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted from practice squad: TE MyCole Pruitt
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed to active roster: CB Daryl Worley
- Promoted from practice squad: OLB Brandon Copeland
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on IR: WR Jamison Crowder
- Signed to active roster: WR Isaiah Hodgins, CB Ja’Marcus Ingram
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Tanner Gentry, LB Joe Giles-Harris
- Waived: DT Brandin Bryant
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted from practice squad: S Marquise Blair, WR Derek Wright
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from IR: CB Cam Taylor-Britt
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Tyler Shelvin
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Dakota Allen, WR Chester Rogers
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Carlos Watkins, LS Matt Overton
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: WR Maurice Alexander, CB AJ Parker
- Promoted from practice squad: K Michael Badgley, CB Saivion Smith
- Placed on IR: WR Quintez Cephus
Houston Texans
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Jordan Akins, TE Mason Schreck
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Corey Peters
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Michael Bandy, K Taylor Bertolet
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: S Jordan Fuller, OL Coleman Shelton
- Signed to active roster: RB Malcolm Brown
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Jacob Harris, C Matt Skura
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted from practice squad: T Brandon Shell
- Activated from IR: S Clayton Fejedelem
- Placed on IR: TE Cethan Carter
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed to active roster: S Myles Dorn
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Dan Chisena, TE Nick Muse
- Placed on IR: TE Ben Ellefson
New England Patriots
- Activated from IR: WR Tyquan Thornton
- Promoted from practice squad: QB Garrett Gilbert, TE Matt Sokol
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: CB Bryce Thompson
- Promoted from practice squad: S Chris Harris, WR Keith Kirkwood
- Placed on IR: CB P.J. Williams
- Waived: RB Tony Jones
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: S Tony Jefferson
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Marcus Johnson, QB Davis Webb
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: T Duane Brown
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Hamsah Nasirildeen
- Placed on IR: OL Max Mitchell
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Andre Chachere, K Cameron Dicker
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed to active roster: OLB Ryan Anderson
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Josh Jackson, S Elijah Riley
- Waived: DE David Anenih
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from IR: S Jimmie Ward
- Signed to active roster: LB Akeem Spence
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Malik Turner, RB Tevin Coleman
- Placed on IR: OL Colton McKivitz
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Cullen Gillaspia, LB Christian Jones
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Kaylon Geiger, WR Deven Thompkins
Washington Commanders
- Activated from IR: OL Tyler Larsen
- Placed on IR: LB Milo Eifler
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.
We’ll keep track of today’s late-round signings here:
Denver Broncos
- Signed: S Delarrin Turner-Yell (fifth round, Oklahoma)
- Signed: C Luke Wattenberg (fifth round, Washington)
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: OL Jamaree Salyer (sixth round, Georgia)
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: TE Nick Muse (sixth round, South Carolina)
New England Patriots
- Signed: DT Sam Roberts (sixth round, Northwest Missouri State)