The Minnesota Vikings have waived cornerback Dwight McGlothern Jr., a surprising move that could be related to the potential activation of center Ryan Kelly. McGlothern, who made the 53-man roster in his first two seasons, is now subject to waivers. If he clears, the Vikings could bring him back to the practice squad. This leaves the cornerback position with limited depth, featuring Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, and Fabian Moreau on the active roster, with Moreau currently filling the CB3 role. The move highlights the constant roster adjustments in the NFL and the ongoing development of talent within the organization.
The Minnesota Vikings have made a surprising move, announcing on Thursday that they have waived cornerback Dwight McGlothern Jr. McGlothern, a former undrafted free agent, had secured a spot on the Vikings' 53-man roster in each of his two NFL seasons, making this a notable development.
With no immediate corresponding move announced, the prevailing speculation centers around the potential activation of center Ryan Kelly, who practiced fully on Wednesday after spending nearly two months on injured reserve. This move could be a strategic maneuver to create a roster spot for Kelly. The deadline for Kelly's activation, if it occurs this week, would be Saturday. McGlothern is now eligible to be claimed off waivers by any other NFL team on Friday. If he clears waivers, the Vikings could opt to bring him back to their practice squad. This would allow them to continue his development and retain him as valuable depth at a position where the team's depth chart is currently thin. This decision leaves Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, and Fabian Moreau as the only cornerbacks currently listed on the Vikings' 53-man roster. Moreau has been filling the role of CB3 since Jeff Okudah was placed on the injured reserve list due to a concussion. The Vikings currently have three cornerbacks on their practice squad: Zemaiah Vaughn, Tyrek Funderburk, and Shemar Bartholomew. Any decision to re-sign McGlothern to the practice squad would necessitate releasing one of these players. McGlothern, nicknamed 'Nudie,' played college football at both LSU and Arkansas. He was one of the most highly touted players in the Vikings' 2024 undrafted free agent class. He quickly impressed during offseason practices and training camp in his rookie season, a trend that continued into the preseason games. This initial performance suggested he could be a significant find for the team. He made the 53-man roster as a rookie, but he spent much of the season as a healthy scratch. He saw action in five games late in the season, playing 20 defensive snaps and 15 snaps on special teams. This offseason, McGlothern continued to make plays throughout training camp, again earning a spot on the 53-man roster. He was one of only four cornerbacks who made the roster at the time, joining Murphy, Rodgers, and Okudah. However, playing time has been challenging to secure this season. In eight games, he has accumulated 31 defensive snaps and 16 snaps on special teams. Despite these limited opportunities, the decision to waive him is somewhat unexpected. McGlothern has demonstrated potential in each of the past two offseasons, he is only 23 years old, and he was one of only four cornerbacks on the roster prior to this waiver move. The football community will be watching to see if he clears waivers and if the Vikings bring him back to their practice squad to further develop his skills. The Vikings will presumably need to elevate a fourth cornerback to their gameday roster on Saturday, whether it ends up being McGlothern or another player from their current pool of available players. Will Ragatz, a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers other Minnesota sports teams, is the source of the report. Ragatz is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, providing extensive coverage of the team at practices, games, and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz earned a degree from Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, and ultimately became co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com. The decision reflects the ever-changing landscape of the NFL, where teams constantly evaluate their rosters to maximize their competitive edge, constantly making adjustments for player performance and injury situations. This move highlights the fine line between potential and consistent production in the professional football arena. The Vikings' strategy in the cornerback position will be observed closely, watching whether they'll be able to re-acquire the player in the future or explore other opportunities. This move showcases the ongoing development of talent within the Vikings’ organization
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