The Arizona Cardinals signed rookie running back Corey Kiner off the Minnesota Vikings practice squad on December 2.
Kiner arrives in Arizona with one of the more productive résumés of any undrafted rookie RB in this year’s class. A former Ohio Mr. Football out of Roger Bacon High School, he racked up 7,130 yards on the ground and 125 total touchdowns in his prep career before committing to LSU.
After one season in the SEC, Kiner transferred back home to Cincinnati and grew into a workhorse. Over three years with the Bearcats, he logged back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2023 and 2024 and finished his college career with 2,882 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on 556 carries, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. His senior year was his best, as he finished with 1,153 rushing yards, four TDs and 111 receiving yards.
Vikings Signed New Cardinals RB Corey Kiner Early This Season
Stacy Revere/Getty ImagesRunning back Corey Kiner was signed to the Vikings’ practice squad earlier this season. He was just poached by the Arizona Cardinals.
Kiner went undrafted and signed with the San Francisco 49ers in April. He flashed early in Kyle Shanahan’s system before an ankle injury led to a waived/injured designation.
He landed in Minnesota after that. In limited preseason action with the Vikings, Kiner had some flashes, finishing with 12 carries for 68 yards (5.7 yards per carry) and two catches for six yards across two games. Per PFF, he forced four missed tackles and had two explosive runs of 10 or more yards.
He never saw any regular season action, but that could change now that he’s current;y on Arizona’s active roster.
A Quick Look at Minnesota’s RBs Room & What’s Next
Jordan Mason has emerged as the Vikes’ best back this year, leading Minnesota with 578 rushing yards and five TDs. Veteran Aaron Jones has battled injuries and has been limited to eight games, netting 300 yards and two total scores.
Zavier Scott has contributed as a change-of-pace option, and Ty Chandler is on injured reserve, so while the poaching of Kiner isn’t a huge deal, it’s still a blow to Minnesota’s RB depth.
Next up, the 4–8 Vikings limp into a Week 14 home game against the Washington Commanders, at U.S. Bank Stadium. Minnesota has averaged just 18.7 points per game while allowing 23.4, numbers that help explain the team’s current four-game losing streak.
Starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy is expected back from concussion protocol after missing the team’s Week 13 game against Seattle. Head coach Kevin O’Connell said McCarthy is symptom-free and on track to start Sunday, giving the offense a needed jolt after undrafted rookie Max Brosmer threw four interceptions in his place.
McCarthy’s year has been bumpy—54.1 completion percentage, six touchdowns, 10 interceptions and the league’s lowest passer rating among qualifying QBs—but he’s going to be the guy, at least for the rest of the season. He can’t perform much worse than Bosmer just did, so that’s a plus.
Washington arrives at 3–9 and on a seven-game losing skid, but the Commanders are more dangerous than their record suggests.
From Minnesota’s standpoint, this looks like it could be a get-right game. We’ll see if the Vikes can take it to the Commanders and end their current skid.
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