Inside The Vikings

Vikings Place Jalen Nailor on Injured Reserve

Nailor to IR is the corresponding move for Cam Akers' addition to the roster.
Will Ragatz|
Vikings Place Jalen Nailor on Injured Reserve
Vikings Place Jalen Nailor on Injured Reserve

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Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings have placed wide receiver and special teams gunner Jalen Nailor on injured reserve. This is the corresponding move for the Cam Akers trade, which was made official when Akers passed a physical on Thursday. The newly-acquired running back is practicing for the first time in Minnesota, wearing jersey No. 31.

This is unfortunate news for Nailor, who also dealt with an injury during training camp. He looked great in OTA practices and at the start of camp, but this will now be his second significant injury absence this season. The 2022 sixth-round pick will miss at least the next four games against the Chargers, Panthers, Chiefs, and Bears.

Nailor hasn't played a snap at receiver this season — the Vikings, in fact, haven't given a WR snap to anyone other than Justin Jefferson, K.J. Osborn, and Jordan Addison in the first two games. Punt returner Brandon Powell is the only other wideout on the 53-man roster at the moment. Of the four receivers on the practice squad — Trishton Jackson, N'Keal Harry, Thayer Thomas, and Lucky Jackson — Trishton Jackson seems like the most likely to be elevated to the gameday roster for added depth.

Nailor had played well as a punt gunner in the first two games, so special teams coordinator Matt Daniels will need to find someone to fill his role in that phase. Only Theo Jackson and Troy Dye have played more special teams snaps than Nailor's 35.

This is also means the Vikings are currently carrying four running backs on the 53, with Akers joining Alexander Mattison, Ty Chandler, and Myles Gaskin.

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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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