Vikings Sign Tackle Marcellus Johnson to Practice Squad
The Vikings on Tuesday signed tackle Marcellus Johnson to their practice squad and released tackle Ricky Lee III.
Johnson began his NFL career earlier this year as an undrafted free agent with the New York Giants.
He appeared in three preseason contests and signed to New York’s practice squad after roster reductions but was released on Sept. 11.
The native of Normal, Illinois, played at Eastern Michigan (44 games from 2018-22) and Missouri (10 games in 2023).
Lee first joined Minnesota’s practice squad on Aug. 29.
We’re just two weeks into the 2024 NFL season and the Minnesota Vikings have already proven plenty of people wrong after improving their record to 2-0 with an impressive win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
After defeating the 49ers, some have been wondering if the Vikings are actually a team that could contend in the NFC this season. Well, on Monday, Hall of Famer and former Minnesota wide receiver Cris Carter appeared on “The Stephen A. Smith Show” and shared why people should be taking Minnesota seriously this year.
“[Sam Darnold] has a spectacular running back, spectacular wide receivers, spectacular tight end, and the wild card to this is Brian Flores [with] the defense. He’s got some guys that get after the passer.
So they are a truly, truly well-rounded football team. They can run. They can throw it. Defensively, they’re going to get after you. You have to prepare for [Flores], and he’s got them boys on defense playing extremely well.
So yes, the Minnesota Vikings and Sam Darnold, they are real.”
Minnesota Vikings have a believer in Hall of Fame WR Cris Carter
Sure, there might be some bias from Carter, given that he spent the majority of his NFL career in a Vikings uniform. But he’s also someone who’s never held back from speaking his mind and telling the truth either, so if he thinks Minnesota can be good this season, then he’s being honest.
In addition to the offensive and defensive weapons the Vikings have this year, Carter also made sure to mention how he thinks Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell is “truly on the cutting edge” when it comes to coaching in the NFL today.
Minnesota has a lot of things heading in the right direction so far this season. Whether or not the Vikings continue to perform at a high level in 2024, Carter and many others know that the franchise is set up for multiple years of success in the near future.
When Ryan Beierman crossed into a tiny clearing in the woods near his cabin in western Wisconsin, the wounded bear he was tracking was crouched under an oak tree, looking him in the eye.
“He was in a stance like a cat about to pounce,’’ Beierman recalled. “The next thing I know he was on me. He charged and knocked me down.’’
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be attacked by a black bear — an extremely rare occurrence even for hunters — Beierman can tell you. Due to shock and adrenaline, he can’t recall how long they wrestled. But he distinctly remembers the bear’s hot breath as its fangs dug into his forehead.
“The bear was fighting for its life, and I was fighting for mine,’’ he said.
The 43-year-old business agent for Teamsters Local 120 in Blaine says he probably wouldn’t have survived the mauling if not for his 12-year-old son, Owen. While his dad was pinned to the ground under the 200-pound boar, Owen scrambled with his hunting rifle and fired a shot from his hip that struck the bruin’s vitals.
“I was flat on my back and could feel the bullet going through the bear,’’ Beierman said. “Owen was a hero. He shot that bear and killed it on top of me.’’
