When the Minnesota Vikings released their final 53-man roster for the 2025 season on Tuesday, it didn't feature a ton of surprises. But inside the announcement, the Vikings revealed that fullback C.J. Ham will be starting the 2025 campaign on the team's injured reserve list.
Minnesota has designated Ham to return from injured reserve, meaning he will be sidelined for at least the first four games on the team' schedule, so, thankfully, we will still see him on the field at some point this season. But with the Vikings wanting to emphasize the run more on offense this year, especially in short-yardage situations, his absence will definitely be felt.
Ham first joined Minnesota all the way back in 2016 as an undrafted running back out of Division II-level Augustana University. In 2017, he switched his position to fullback, and that's where he's remained for his entire career with the Vikings.
C.J. Ham not the only Minnesota Vikings player beginning the 2025 season on the injured reserve list
In addition to Ham, undrafted rookie edge rusher Tyler Batty was also placed on Minnesota's injured reserve list for the start of the 2025 season.
Batty spent his college career at BYU, and in his final season at the school, the 6-foot-5, 275-pound pass-rusher accumulated the second-most quarterback pressures in the Big 12 Conference, according to data from PFF.
He appeared in all three of the Vikings' preseason games this summer and he finished with six tackles, three pressures, and one pass deflection.
It's currently unknown what injuries Ham and Batty are dealing with. But Minnesota clearly felt that both players needed to miss at least four games before they felt comfortable enough to put them on the field.
During the last few seasons, Ham has been very reliable and able to avoid any injuries that have kept him out of action. In fact, the last Vikings game he missed due to injury or illness was back in Week 16 of the 2020 season.
Unfortunately, Ham's consecutive games streak has come to an end now that he's beginning the 2025 season on injured reserve.