Vikings Announce New Decision on Long-Time NFL Veteran

The Minnesota Vikings have brought safety Tavierre Thomas back into the fold, signing the veteran to the practice squad after he was released in final roster cuts.

Thomas, who has been in the NFL since 2018, was among the players Minnesota let go Sunday as the team trimmed to 53. The move was notable because he had just re-signed in March on a two-year deal after a full 2025 season in purple.

By Monday, he was already listed among the club’s first practice-squad additions, a familiar path for a player who has made a career of staying ready.

That career started as an undrafted free agent out of Ferris State. After a brief stop with the Arizona Cardinals, Thomas landed with the Cleveland Browns and later spent three seasons with the Houston Texans and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before joining Minnesota in 2025.

He is not a household name on defense, but he has been a durable special-teams piece across eight NFL seasons.

Last year he played in all 17 games for the Vikings. Most of his work came on the kicking units: he was among the team’s most-used special teamers, logged more than 370 snaps in the third phase, and led Minnesota in special-teams tackles.

He also picked up a forced fumble and a handful of defensive snaps when needed. Coaches valued the versatility — gunner, coverage, return units — even as a few high-profile penalties drew attention.

The 53-man cut still made sense on paper. Minnesota’s safety room grew crowded with Joshua Metellus, Theo Jackson, Jay Ward, third-round rookie Jakobe Thomas, and undrafted camp standout Jacob Thomas.

Keeping every veteran would have squeezed younger players who impressed in August. Releasing Thomas and then signing him to the practice squad lets the Vikings keep his experience close without using a 53-man spot.

Practice-squad status is not a demotion in the way it once was. Veteran exemptions and weekly elevations mean a player like Thomas can be up for a game if injuries hit the secondary or special teams need a trusted body.

For a 30-year-old who has already shown he can play every week, that is a workable arrangement.

Minnesota opens the regular season against Green Bay. Whether Thomas is elevated that week or later, the Vikings clearly decided they would rather have him in the building than on another roster.

For a player who has bounced from team to team since 2018 and still found a way to play 17 games last season, that is another chapter in a long, practical NFL career.