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Vikings Shuffle Practice Squad for Week 5, Place O-Lineman on IR
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- Vikings Shuffle Practice Squad for Week 5, Place O-Lineman on IR
Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
The Minnesota Vikings have made it official: Left guard Donovan Jackson has been placed on injured reserve, after he suffered a meniscus tear in his knee during Week 4's win against the Miami Dolphins.
Donovan Jackson placed on injured reserve, among other MN Vikings roster moves
But that wasn't the only roster move announced by the Vikings this afternoon. Instead, it was one of many, most of which came on the practice squad, as head coach Kevin O'Connell and general manager Nolan Teasley craft their roster plans for Week 5 against the New Orleans Saints .
The #Vikings have announced the following roster moves– Placed G Donovan Jackson on IR– Signed T Tristan Leigh to the practice squad– Released CB Natrone Brooks, P Johnny Hekker and RB Devin Neal from the practice squad– Waived CB Tyreek Chappell from IR
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 6, 2026
During his press conference on Monday, O'Connell revealed the devastating news on Jackson, who the Vikings selected with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and who has started all 18 games he's played since the Vikings drafted him. His meniscus needs season-ending surgery .
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Thus, today's injured reserve designation was not a surprise.
Tristan Leigh returns to the practice squad
As reported Monday , Joe Huber stepped in for Jackson against the Dolphins, and is expected to keep that job. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw remains in concussion protocol. If he can't clear by Sunday's matchup in New Orleans, Ryan Van Demark is expected to start next to Huber.
To backfill the offensive line depth chart, the Vikings signed tackle Tristan Leigh to the practice squad. Leigh is an undrafted free agent out of Clemson who was with Minnesota through the preseason. He also had a brief practice-squad stint after final training camp cuts. And now he is back.
Play of the Day No. 176: Dylan Stewart gets Tristan Leigh to bite hard that he's going to play through his outside shoulder before fluidly breaking inside for a B-gap QB hit on Cade Klubnik (South Carolina vs. Clemson, 2024). #POTD https://t.co/lKTMuHVuh9
— Sam Teets (@Sam_Teets33) August 20, 2025
Related: Vikings Superstar Justin Jefferson Pushing to Play vs Saints
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Meanwhile, the Vikings released three practice squad players Tuesday, including cornerback Natrone Brooks, punter Johnny Hekker and running back Devin Neal. Brooks had only been signed last Thursday, after Jihad Ward was scooped up by the Giants.
Hekker has been the Week 3 and Week 4 fill-in for injured rookie punter Brett Thorson. It's the third time the Vikings have let Hekker go since final cuts, and each of the first two times he came back on the practice squad. Neal was a recent running-back depth add.
Minnesota also waived cornerback Tyreek Chappell from injured reserve, clearing him off the IR list.
What all this means for Week 5 vs the Saints
The 4-0 Vikings travel to the Caesars Superdome for a noon CT kickoff against the Saints Sunday on FOX, before they go on their Week 6 bye. The bigger story remains the left side of the offensive line. How will it perform without Jackson and possibly Darrisaw?
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Leigh gives Minnesota another tackle it can elevate if Van Demark is forced to start and the club wants a third swing option, but he isn't going to wow anybody at TCO Performance Center if he's needed to take real reps on the o-line.
