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Vikings sign Johnny Hekker, Jaret Patterson with injuries piling up
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- Vikings sign Johnny Hekker, Jaret Patterson with injuries piling up
The Vikings made two roster moves on Tuesday. With punter Brett Thorson dealing with a hamstring injury, they're bringing back veteran Johnny Hekker , and they're signing veteran running back Jaret Patterson to the practice squad, with Jordan Mason on the IR for three more weeks .
Hekker signed with the Vikings in the offseason, but he was beat out by Thorson in training camp, which led to his release. He's a four-time pro bowler and familiar with the team, so it felt like a no-brainer to bring him back with Thorson's status up in the air. He last played with the Titans in 2025.
Nov 16, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans punter Johnny Hekker (3) punts the ball against the Houston Texans during the first quarter at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Thorson suffered a hamstring injury on Sunday against the Bears, and the severity is currently unknown, but the fact that they felt the need to sign Hekker probably implies that he could be out for an extended period of time.
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Patterson is reportedly being signed to the Vikings' practice squad, as they look for veteran depth in the running back room behind Aaron Jones . Mason is still on the IR for at least three more weeks. DeeJay Dallas and Demond Claiborne acted as RB2 and RB3 against the Bears, and Patterson will now compete for a role alongside Jerome Ford , who was added to the practice squad last week.
Patterson last played with the Chargers last season, and he compiled six carries for 41 yards. Listed at 5-foot-8, 195 pounds, he has 126 carries for 503 yards and three touchdowns since going undrafted out of Buffalo in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Aug 18, 2026; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers running back Jaret Patterson (32) during joint practice against the San Francisco 49ers at The Bolt. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Vikings will look to get healthy and move to 3-0 this weekend against the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay, who currently have a 0-2 record to start the season. That game is scheduled to kick off at 3:05 p.m. CT.
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This story was originally published by Bring Me The Sports on Sep 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN Vikings section. Add Bring Me The Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
