Lost in the Shuffle, the Vikings Officially Re-Added a Pair of Players

NFL: Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints — Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

A touch lost in the shuffle, perhaps, has been the move involving a pair of injured players who are now healthy.

The Vikings officially activated a pair of players prior to the Week 5 Saints game. Check out the word from the team’s social media: “The #Vikings have elevated WRs Odell Beckham Jr. and Jeshaun Jones to the active roster for tomorrow’s game. C Michael Jurgens and TE Ben Yurosek have been activated from IR and will enter tomorrow’s game without an injury designation.”

The Vikings Officially Get Help for OL and TE

Both the tight end and offensive line positions have been hit hard by injury. Getting two young lads back in action is therefore a nice boost.

At tight end, TE2 Josh Oliver is done for the year. The team is forced to work with less hulking muscle when looking to bulldoze defenders. Worse yet, the team then lost T.J. Hockenson at the beginning of the Saints game, depleting the talent during the contest itself.

So, the Yurosek addition is a nice boost at a time when a nice boost is needed. He’s not an elite option but he made the roster last year as an undrafted rookie. A major reason why Minnesota made him a priority is due to his grit and competitiveness as a blocker.

Vikings player catches football in end zone during game at stadium. — Oct 24, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Minnesota Vikings tight end Josh Oliver (84) spikes the ball after scoring on a 5-yard touchdown pass against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.

Yurosek got leaned on for 39 snaps down in New Orleans. His single target resulted in a 1st-down catch that went for 10 yards.

And then there was the Michael Jurgens re-addition. Getting him back didn’t prove vital to the Sunday game but he’s a nice piece of the puzzle given how things have gone.

LT1 Christian Darrisaw is working through concussion. The expectation is that he’ll be back in action for Week 7 but there’s a lot of caution around the terrific tackle due to his past injury issues (most notably that terrible knee ailment from 2024 that hindered his 2025).

Moreover, there’s the loss of Donovan Jackson for the remainder of the 2026 season. Joe Huber has been tasked with being the new LG1 and has done a nice job in that role. Still, though, it’s reassuring for the Vikings to have a backup guard/center should there end up being a need for help.

NFL: Houston Texans at Minnesota Vikings — Aug 9, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings guard Michael Jurgens (65) holds the ball at the line of scrimmage during the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

As always, the Vikings’ hope is that the depth lads won’t be needed. Nobody wants to see guys go down to injury.

What’s stubbornly true, though, is that the NFL is rugged workplace that commonly forces a team to lean on the backups. Minnesota has been far from immune. And, to be sure, GM Nolan Teasley and HC Kevin O’Connell have spoken commonly about the need for help from the overlooked players. Neither is naive and both have looked prophetic for emphasizing the importance of the broader collection of talent.

So, the Vikings officially bumping up these players from the IR to the 53-man roster is a good gust of wind that’s not a surprise but not to be overlooked, either. Each are important.

Look for Ben Yurosek and Michael Jurgens in future weeks even as Minnesota is trying to get healthy.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.