The Minnesota Vikings placed Carson Wentz on injured reserve and used the available roster spot for a reunion at the Green Bay Packers‘ expense.
On Monday, October 27, the Vikings claimed tight end Ben Sims after the Packers waived him to create roster space for Christian Watson, who was returning from an ACL injury.
Ideally, the Packers would have re-signed Sims to the practice squad if he went unclaimed, but given the Vikings’ familiarity with Sims, who got his first shot in the NFL from the Vikings in 2023, it was an opportune time to bolster their tight end depth.
Sims, 25, went undrafted in 2023 but earned a spot in Vikings training camp that summer. He made it to the final days of camp but ultimately did not make the initial 53-man roster, leading to the Packers claiming him.
Sims got the call from Green Bay while in a meeting with Vikings practice-squad candidates. Since then, Sims has started six games for the Packers, playing 414 offensive snaps and 187 special teams snaps for Green Bay. He’s caught eight passes for 63 yards and a touchdown in his young career while being buried behind Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgraves.
Sims, who credited the Vikings’ tight end room for helping him in his first summer as a pro, has a chance to play this week with tight end Josh Oliver dealing with a foot injury that forced him out of a Week 8 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Ben Sims Credits Vikings TE Room After His Release and Signing to the Packers
GettyFormer Packers tight end Ben Sims has a history with the Vikings.
At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, Sims ran a sub-4.6 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine. Sims was projected as an explosive playmaker who could contribute as a blocker in the run and pass game.
Spending the 2023 offseason in Minnesota, Sims spoke glowingly about his time with the Vikings — even after he arrived in Green Bay.
âOne of our player-personnel people, he was like, âYou just got claimed off waivers. Youâve got to go,â Sims said in a locker room interview after he was signed to the Packers’ 53-man roster. âI was like, âWhere am I going?â He said I was coming to Green Bay. So I grabbed my truck, packed my bags and drove here yesterday.
âI was pleased with the way I was coached. I was pleased with the guys, the older (tight end) group in Minnesota, they let me lean on them a lot. So I was really fortunate to have a group of vets that really helped me and go out of their way to be there for me,â Sims added.
Vikings on the Search for QB Help With Carson Wentz Poised for Season-Ending Surgery
There’s plenty that can be said about Wentz’s time as a starter for the Vikings this season — but what can’t be dismissed his the veteran quarterback’s grit.
He played through a shoulder injury for weeks behind a patchwork offensive line and gutted out what proved to be his final start against the Chargers.
Wentz was clearly struggling with the injury last week, which likely impacted his play. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Wentz was pressured on 53.1% of dropbacks and took five sacks and five quarterback hits against the Chargers. He completed just two passes in the fourth quarter as his shoulder seemed shot late in the game.
The Vikings are down to J.J. McCarthy and Max Brosmer for the rest of the season and are likely to sign a veteran quarterback to replace Wentz.
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