The Minnesota Vikings have yet to see a third tight end emerge this season, but they have narrowed the group by releasing veteran Nick Vannett on Monday, entering the bye week.
Vannett, 31, is a 10-year veteran in the NFL with 108 catches, 1,012 yards and nine touchdowns in his career. In 2024, he caught 17 receptions for 135 yards and three touchdowns for the Tennessee Titans and played 399 offensive snaps, the most he’s played in a single season since 2019.
The veteran tight end was not brought in to push Josh Oliver or T.J. Hockenson for playing time, but rather to bring experience as a bottom-of-the-roster addition. He played just four offensive snaps for the Vikings, who spent the past two weeks in the United Kingdom.
Vannett’s departure creates an opportunity for one of the Vikings‘ two rookie tight ends to emerge.
Undrafted rookie Ben Yurosek has played 27 offensive snaps this season but sustained a knee injury in Week 3 and missed the past two games. Meanwhile, sixth-round pick Gavin Bartholomew is on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list but is eligible to return to practice.
JJ McCarthy Among 4 Key Vikings Players Expected to Return to Practice Ahead of Eagles Game
Entering a Week 6 bye with a 3-2 record, the Vikings could use a week off to get healthy with injuries depleting the roster.
J.J. McCarthy headlines a trio of players who will return from injury. McCarthy has missed the past three games with a high ankle sprain he suffered in a Week 2 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
The Vikings are also expecting starting rookie left guard Donovan Jackson (wrist), linebacker Blake Cashman (hamstring) and backup center Michael Jurgens (hamstring) to return to practice.
“Getting some positives here at the bye,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said. “Comes at a big-time moment for us where we’ve obviously had some adversity from an injury standpoint. We’ll continue to work through that, but I like the way guys have stepped up and the way our team has battled throughout this first five weeks.”
O’Connell added that McCarthy will get “extensive work” during the bye week to prepare for his first full week of practice, which O’Connell will use to determine whether he is ready to start against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jordan Addison said after Sunday’s win over the Cleveland Browns that he is planning to help McCarthy prepare this week.
“Imma be around the building catching with JJ McCarthy, just getting ready with him.”
Vikings QB Carson Wentz Returns From Browns Game With Shoulder Injury
After appearing at risk of being held out of the Browns game, Carson Wentz battled through a shoulder injury to pull off a heroic comeback victory.
O’Connell said that Wentz came home “pretty sore in that left shoulder” and will be evaluated throughout the bye week, per the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Wentz weathered a turbulent time for the team with a veteran grit that cannot go unmentioned. He was behind a patchwork offensive line and has taken a beating over the past three weeks but managed to lift the Vikings offense to a win over a vaunted Browns defense.
What that means for his future with McCarthy’s return on the horizon remains to be seen — and Wentz himself seemed unbothered by that reality.
“I’ve done plenty of looking ahead in my life. I’m done doing that,” he said. “I’m very much trying to live in the moment and appreciate the moment right now. I’m gonna enjoy this one, get healthy, and see what happens.”
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