Vikings' wave of Saturday roster moves includes the return of C.J. Ham
The Vikings made a wave of roster moves on Saturday in advance of their Week 5 game against the Browns in London.
Here they are:
- C Ryan Kelly placed on IR
- FB C.J. Ham activated from IR
- QB Desmond Ridder waived
- OL Vershon Lee signed to 53-man roster
- RB Cam Akers elevated from practice squad
- OL Henry Byrd elevated from practice squad
We covered Kelly landing on injured reserve due to his latest concussion in a separate story.
With Michael Jurgens out due to a hamstring injury, Blake Brandel will make his first career appearance at center against Cleveland. His backup will be Lee, an undrafted rookie out of South Carolina who the Vikings signed in June. Lee played center, left guard, and right tackle during his five-year college career.
The return of Ham is significant. The Vikings spent the first four weeks of the season without their fullback and one of their most valuable special teams players due to a knee injury that landed him on IR in late August. Ham, the Vikings' second-longest-tenured player behind Harrison Smith, played 277 offensive snaps and 299 on special teams last season.
Getting Ham back should provide a boost for the Vikings in the running game and on special teams. He typically only plays around 15-20 snaps per game on offense, but he's useful in those snaps as a lead blocker in the run game. Kevin O'Connell also sometimes deploys him on obvious passing downs because of his abilities as a pass protector out of the backfield. The 32-year-old Ham has played in 136 games with the Vikings since the 2017 season and has scored six career touchdowns.
Ridder being waived is notable in that it means the Vikings will only have two quarterbacks available for Sunday's game. With J.J. McCarthy ruled out, it'll be a third consecutive start for Carson Wentz, with rookie Max Brosmer as his backup. It's highly unlikely that both players would become unavailable in the same game, but it would be fascinating to see who the Vikings' emergency quarterback would be in that situation. Hopefully it won't get to that point.
The Vikings signed Ridder in mid-September after McCarthy's injury. The former Falcons third-round pick spent last season with the Raiders. If McCarthy is healthy after the bye week — and that's not exactly a sure thing — the Vikings would be back to a full three-person quarterback room.
Lastly, Byrd and Akers being elevated to the gameday roster gives the Vikings some additional depth. Byrd is presumably the backup to both Joe Huber at left guard and Will Fries at right guard. Akers has now been elevated for three consecutive games, but Zavier Scott has emerged as the Vikings' clear-cut RB2 while Aaron Jones is on IR. Akers did not play an offensive snap last week.
Shedeur Sanders Set to Make Browns Debut - Cleveland’s New Era Begins!
The Browns' quarterback situation continues to evolve as the team carefully plans its next move for the future under center.
The Cleveland Browns have officially turned the page at quarterback. Cleveland has benched veteran Joe Flacco in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel. However, another young signal-caller continues to generate significant attention within the organization. Fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders, who is expected to play at some point this season once fully prepared.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Browns plan to give Sanders his opportunity only after he completes a full week of practice with a game plan specifically designed to match his strengths. The decision reflects Cleveland’s cautious approach to developing the former Colorado star. Sanders entered the league with both elite collegiate production and immense expectations as the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders.
However, after each practice, Sanders reportedly puts in extra work with fellow reserves. He's focused on refining his mechanics and command of the offense. One team source shared that “his development happens every day,” though Gabriel has remained ahead of him since training camp. The Browns believe throwing Sanders into live action without a proper system built around him would be unfair and could hinder his long-term growth.
It's a matter of when, not if, for the Browns and Shedeur Sanders
While Sanders has yet to take a snap, he remains a compelling part of Cleveland’s plans. He made headlines earlier this month for miming his way through a locker room media session following criticism over comments comparing himself to current NFL starters. Behind the antics lies a player eager to prove himself.
Sanders was one of college football’s most efficient passers last season. He completed 74% of his attempts for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Despite taking 94 sacks over his final two years at Colorado, he left with the highest career completion percentage in FBS history at 71.8%.
With Deshaun Watson on injured reserve and the Browns evaluating multiple young quarterbacks, it seems only a matter of time before Sanders takes the field. Cleveland’s staff believes that when the moment arrives, the game plan and Sanders will be ready.
