Head coach Kevin O’Connell and the Minnesota Vikings made multiple roster moves on Monday, kicking the week off with new additions in
“The #Vikings have signed DL Jonathan Harris and TE Matt Lauter,” the Vikings announced in a post on X on August 24, adding that they “waived-injured,” both cornerback Tyree Chappell and defensive lineman Taki Taimani.
CB Tyreek Chappell and DL Taki Taimani have been waived-injured.
It is an unfortunate development for Chappell and Taimani, but to Harris and Lauter’s benefit.
Vikings Bring in Johanthan Harris, Matt Lauter
Harris, 30, is in his second stint with the Vikings, first joining thee club in 2024 and getting released in January 2026.
“In 40 career games (nine starts), the 6-foot-5, 295-pound Harris has produced 91 tackles, including seven for losses, one sack and seven quarterback hits,” Vikings.com’s Rob Kleifield & Lindsey Young wrote on August 24, noting, “Harris recorded the bulk of those stats — 43 tackles and a sack — over 17 games and five starts for Denver in 2023.
“Harris joined Chicago in 2019 as an undrafted free agent out of Lindenwood, which was a Division-II program at the time, and he stayed with the Bears until late October that season. Harris joined Denver soon thereafter and played 31 games for the Broncos through 2023.”
The veteran has also spent time with thee Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers.
Lauter is a tight end out of Boise State, who tried out for the team in the spring and now will try to stick on the 53-man roster or practice squad but has no NFL regular-season experience.
“He finished his collegiate career with 1,146 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, ranking third all-time among Boise State tight ends,” Kleifield and Young wrote. “The Raiders signed Lauter as an undrafted free agent on April 30 but waived him two days later. He also was with the Titans briefly this offseason.”
The Vikings have added to their group at a time when teams are trying to whittle down their rosters with the cutdown deadline approaching (August 30). There will be a slew of roster moves around the league just before, during, and right after that date.
Time will tell how much more the Vikings have planned.
Vikings Begin Process to Cut Cornerback, Defensive Lineman
This is not the last the Vikings will have an official transaction with either of Chappell or Taimani come across the wire.
They will both go through waivers, and if unclaimed, will revert to the Vikings’ injured reserve.
After that, the Vikings will part ways with both, giving them injury settlements. Chappell and Taimani will be free to sign with any of the 31 other teams right away after that. But they must wait three weeks beyond a date established in their settlements to return to Minnesota.
Vikings Add Former Broncos Starter & Ex-Raiders TE, Waive 2 Players