Vikings Tried Out RB Dion Lewis, TE Jake Stoneburner
By Dan Zinski
The Vikings have instituted a next-man-up policy with all their injuries, but the other problem is that when you call the next man up, that leaves you with a hole to fill.
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The Vikings were left with not one but two holes in their practice squad after elevating Chase Ford and Austin Wentworth to replace Kyle Rudolph and Brandon Fusco. They filled those holes by signing QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson and TE Ryan Otten.
Before settling on MBT and Otten as their new practice squad players, the Vikings also reportedly tried out former Philadelphia RB Dion Lewis and former Green Bay tight end Jake Stoneburner.
Their decision to look at a running back is slightly noteworthy given the current state of that particular area of their depth chart.
The Vikings are putting on a good show of being satisfied with Matt Asiata, but after the way he performed in his start Sunday against New Orleans, you have to wonder if they are being entirely honest.
The truth is that, outside of Jerick McKinnon, the Vikings are by no means married to any of the running backs on their roster. Asiata and Joe Banyard are week-to-week propositions at this point. Either man could easily be dumped if something better presents itself.
Speculation has tended to center on former Bengals RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, but his age and health both have to be concerns.
The Vikings passed on the opportunity to sign Dion Lewis this week, but that doesn’t mean they won’t revisit Lewis later, or look at more running backs on a tryout basis.
Neither Matt Asiata nor Joe Banyard should feel particularly secure in his roster spot at this juncture.