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MN Vikings Elevate Promising Rookie for Debut
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- MN Vikings Elevate Promising Rookie for Debut
Steve Roberts-Imagn Images Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
This week the Minnesota Vikings are gearing up for a rivalry game against the Green Bay Packers . They are favorites despite Matt LaFleur's team being the one that's headed to the playoffs. Kevin O'Connell's group is well-positioned, even potentially without J.J. McCarthy , because the opponent won't be playing their starters .
Minnesota is down plenty of talent too, and that creates opportunity for depth pieces to step up. Cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn looked intriguing during the preseason. Now he'll get his first crack at a regular season game.
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Zemaiah Vaughn signed to roster by Minnesota Vikings
Last week the MN Vikings were without three-of-five starting offensive lineman . That has been a theme all year. Cornerback Jeff Okudah hasn't played since Week 8 , and the oft-injured former 3rd overall pick replicated that history with the Vikings. Dwight McGlothern has already seen run, and now Zemaiah Vaughn will too.
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The #Vikings have signed CB Zemaiah Vaughn to the 53-man roster and placed DL Elijah Williams on IR. pic.twitter.com/mmByXBv8XM
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 29, 2025
Vaughn is a 23-year-old from Beaumont, Texas . He went undrafted and has hung around the Vikings with reps coming on the practice squad.
In college, Vaughn played 56 games for Kyle Whittingham's Utah Utes . He had three career interceptions and forced a pair of fumbles with 144 total tackles. At 6'3″ Vaughn has size that allows him to compete with some of the bigger bodied wideouts in the league.
Zemaiah Vaughn locking it DOWN 🔒 pic.twitter.com/OlnIi7XjNr
— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) August 14, 2025
It's unlikely that Brian Flores puts Vaughn in for significant defensive snaps, but he can build his case for a 2026 roster spot this weekend. After entering the year with just three cornerbacks on the 53-man roster, Minnesota finishes with five .
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Williams, a fellow undrafted rookie , had played in seven games for the Minnesota Vikings out of Morgan State. He record nine total tackles while logging 42 snaps on defense and 29 on special teams.
The Vikings don't need to worry about results on Sunday, though a win would give them a winning 9-8 record . Feeding Justin Jefferson the 53 yards he needs to reach 1,000 is a must though.
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