Gavin Bartholomew may be one of the least-known names in the Minnesota Vikings’ tight end room, but one practice can change that. The second-year player finally has a healthy chance after a lost rookie season.
Bartholomew, a 2025 sixth-round pick from Pitt, spent last year on the PUP list because of a back injury suffered in August and never appeared in a game.
A recent Minnesota Star Tribune pre-training camp 53-man roster projection had Bartholomew getting waived and fellow backup tight end Ben Yurosek surviving.
However, a recap of Wednesday's training camp practice from Will Ragatz of Bring Me the Sports revealed that Bartholomew started camp with multiple catches, including a seam reception against linebacker Jamal Adams in the team’s official observations, giving new tight ends coach Ryan Cordell something immediate to grade.
Gavin Bartholomew crashes the Minnesota Vikings’ tight end race
“Semi-random Vikings camp takeaway, but I thought TE Gavin Bartholomew looked really good,” The Athletic’s Alec Lewis wrote on X on Wednesday. “Made two impressive over-the-middle catches. Moved well. First time really seeing him out there after back injury happened last year.”
Those catches won’t threaten T.J. Hockenson or Josh Oliver, who remain firmly atop the depth chart. They do put heat on Yurosek, whose availability and dirty-work résumé no longer guarantee anything once pads are on and show whether Bartholomew can block, handle assignments, and earn Cordell’s trust.
At Pitt, Bartholomew totaled 105 catches, 1,257 yards and 11 touchdowns across 50 games, with career highs of 38 receptions and 13 starts in 2024. His 326 receiving yards in 2023 and four touchdowns in both 2021 and 2024 were also collegiate bests.
Vikings analyst Sam Ekstrom went so far as to predict Bartholomew gets the Mr. Mankato award in August. “Going with Gavin Bartholomew to take the Brandon Dillon path and shock the world for the Mr. Mankato title,” Ekstrom recently wrote on X in his camp-opening 53-man prediction.
SKOR North's Phil Mackey and Judd Zulgad created that local award for an under-the-radar preseason standout, named for the Vikings’ former 52-year training-camp home at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs won the first two editions, while Ivan Pace Jr., Jalen Nailor and Max Brosmer claimed the last three.
Hockenson's revised contract lets him hit free agency next spring, putting a little more value on the TE3 competition. Bartholomew could position himself for a larger 2027 role, provided he stays healthy and handles his blocking assignments.
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