The Vikings kept two other experienced veterans in Tonyan, the former Packers and Bears tight end, as well as Williams, a former Rams starter on the D-line. NFL rules allow teams to sign up to six players with unlimited experience to practice squads.
Former Vikings running back Dalvin Cook is expected to sign with the Cowboys practice squad, according to NFL Media. Cook, 29, was cut by the Vikings before last season, when he averaged a career-low 5.6 touches per game while appearing in 16 games (including one playoff game) for the Jets and Ravens. Cook reunites with former Vikings coach Mike Zimmer, who was hired this offseason as the Cowboys defensive coordinator.
Gable Steveson, the former Gophers All-American wrestler and Olympic gold medalist, was released by the Buffalo Bills after his first NFL training camp as a defensive lineman. The team did not retain him on the practice squad Wednesday, when Steveson wrote on Instagram: “Put on my first pair of cleats, pads, and played my first ever football game as a NFL player here in Buffalo! Even made some plays along the way! All love!! This isn’t the end… Back to the drawing board!!”
Guard/tackle Doug Nester, who spent this summer with the Vikings as an undrafted rookie out of West Virginia, signed with the Steelers practice squad.