Vikings Sign WR Charles Johnson Off Cleveland Browns Practice Squad

The Vikings have found a temporary solution to their wide receiver issue, signing Charles Johnson off the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad.

More from Minnesota Vikings News

• Former Vikings first-round pick could reportedly return to NFC North
• Bears analyst has extremely embarrassing Kirk Cousins take
• 6 Vikings who (maybe) won’t make the 53-man roster in 2023
• Predicting what the Vikings will do in the 2023 NFL Draft based on 2022
• Vikings have reportedly begun extension talks with T.J. Hockenson

Johnson joined Cleveland from the Packers’ practice squad in Oct. 2013. He went through camp and preseason with the Browns in 2014, appearing in all four preseason games and catching six balls.

A 7th-round pick by Green Bay out of Grand Valley State, Johnson played under Norv Turner in Cleveland last season. Because Johnson was signed off a practice squad he must be added to the 53-man roster.

Picking up a wide receiver became more-or-less a necessity when the Vikings were forced to cut Jerome Simpson after news broke of his latest run-in with the law.

Already serving a suspension by the NFL for a 2013 DUI, Simpson was busted July 7 and cited for marijuana, violating a restricted license and an open bottle.

Simpson could be facing a probation violation which could result in his having to serve jail time.

Needless to say, now is not the time for the Vikings to be standing behind a player who appears to have no regard whatsoever for the law.

Some have accused the Vikings of hypocrisy over their decision to cut Simpson loose while sticking with Adrian Peterson while his own legal battle plays out, but these critics miss the fact that Simpson is a serial offender who was already under NFL suspension, while Peterson thus far has not been convicted of a single thing.

Charles Johnson fills a roster need for the Vikings but don’t look for him to represent much of a long-term solution. The Vikings will be shopping for receivers this offseason.