Inside The Vikings

Vikings Release Recently-Signed RB Myles Gaskin, But...

This is a procedural move that gives the Vikings some cap flexibility.
Will Ragatz|
Vikings Release Recently-Signed RB Myles Gaskin, But...
Vikings Release Recently-Signed RB Myles Gaskin, But...

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Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings have released veteran running back Myles Gaskin, who they signed less than two weeks ago.

This leaves Alexander Mattison and Ty Chandler as the only running backs on the 53-man roster. Kene Nwangwu is on injured reserve — meaning he will miss a minimum of four games — and rookie DeWayne McBride is on the practice squad.

However, it doesn't sound like Gaskin is going anywhere. According to ESPN's Kevin Seifert, this is merely a procedural move. Gaskin will revert to the practice squad on Saturday and be elevated to the active gameday roster for Sunday's opener against the Buccaneers.

Why do this? It's presumably for salary cap reasons. As a vested veteran, if Gaskin is on the roster Week 1, his salary becomes guaranteed for the year. By going this route, the Vikings can re-sign Gaskin next week to have a little more cap and roster flexibility moving forward.

So essentially, this move doesn't change anything about the Vikings' roster in the near future, but it gives them the option to more easily move on from Gaskin later in the season. It's just part of the business.

Gaskin figures to serve as Minnesota's No. 3 running back on Sunday behind Mattison and Chandler. The fifth-year veteran out of Washington spent the last four seasons with the Dolphins before being released a couple weeks ago.

Mattison seems likely to handle a heavy workload in his first game as the Vikings' unquestioned starter. Chandler may mix in as a change-of-pace option, with Gaskin possibly seeing some work on obvious passing downs.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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