Vikings sign QB Sean Mannion to 53-man roster off practice squad, release RB Ameer Abdullah
Sep. 21—The Vikings on Tuesday signed quarterback Sean Mannion off the practice squad to the 53-man roster, and he will continue to serve as the backup to Kirk Cousins.
To make room on the roster for Mannion, the Vikings released running back Ameer Abdullah. He could be re-signed to the practice squad.
The move had been expected on Mannion since he had used up his two allowed elevations from the practice squad for the season in the first two games. If Mannion was not signed to the 53-man roster, he would only be eligible for the rest of the season to be active for a game as potential replacement for a player on the COVID-19 reserve list.
Mannion, the backup quarterback the past two seasons for Minnesota, was re-signed Sept. 2 to the practice squad after being released by Seattle. A source said on Sept. 11 that the plan when Mannion was signed was for him to be the backup and that he would be signed to the 53-man roster after he used up his two elevations.
The only other quarterback on Minnesota's active roster is rookie Kellen Mond. He was inactive for the first two games.
Abdullah, after playing the past three seasons for the Vikings, began this season on the practice squad and was elevated to the active roster for the first game. Abdullah was then signed last Saturday to the 53-man roster, and played in the second game.
Abdullah still has one elevation from the practice squad allowed this season. So Abdullah, who does not have to go through waivers because he is a vested veteran, could be re-signed to the practice squad as soon as Wednesday.
If that becomes the case, he could be elevated to the active roster for Sunday's game against Seattle to serve as the third running back. Due to Kene Nwangwu being on injured reserve, the only running backs now on the active roster are Dalvin Cook, the starter, and Alexander Mattison.
