The Minnesota Vikings officially beefed up their practice squad today, bringing in a group of five players that includes some familiar faces and some guys who have practically collected passport stamps from every team. This isn’t just about filling spots; it’s about making sure you have that crucial depth as the grind of the regular season keeps rolling.
Familiar Faces and Crucial Insurance
First up, they are bringing back punter Johnny Hekker to the practice squad. This guy is pure insurance, ready to step in if Brett Thorson has any more injury issues. You always need a solid backup for special teams, and Hekker fits that bill. Running back Devin Neal, who we heard about yesterday, also got the official nod for the practice squad today. It is good to see those guys locked in as reliable backups.
The League Tour for Estime, Banks, and Priebe
But let’s talk about the other three, because their stories are wild. Running back Audric Estime is probably the name that jumps out the most. This dude was a fifth-round pick by the Denver Broncos back in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. He spent his rookie year in Denver, got waived after training camp in 2025, then did a quick stint on the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad before landing with the New Orleans Saints. He stuck with the Saints through the rest of that season and even started this year with them before getting waived with an injury settlement just last week. Talk about a resume! He has piled up 122 carries for 508 yards and three touchdowns, plus 17 catches for an extra 130 yards over his career. That kind of production is no joke for a practice squad guy.
Then there’s outside linebacker Keshawn Banks, whose journey is even crazier. He started as an undrafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers in 2023 out of San Diego State, spent that season on their practice squad, and even got elevated for their wild card playoff game. In 2024, he played a bit for the Michigan Panthers in the UFL, then got cut so he could sign with the New England Patriots. He actually played in three games for them, got released, hit the Arizona Cardinals practice squad for the rest of that year, and then went back to the Panthers in 2025. This year, 2026, he was drafted by the Orlando Storm in the UFL, went through training camp with the Atlanta Falcons, and now he is in Minnesota. Seriously, what a grind! Finally, offensive lineman Josh Priebe spent all of 2025 on the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad, got elevated once but didn’t even play, and was just waived by them at the end of August. These guys have seen it all, and they are bringing that experience to the Vikings.
With these five additions, the Vikings have officially rounded out their practice squad, making sure they have a full roster page ready to go. It is all about having those options, having those guys ready to step up if the starters go down. In the NFL, you can never have enough depth, and these moves show the team is serious about building it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Daily Norseman.
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