EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings on Thursday added a new running back by signing rookie Aaron Dykes.
In order to make room for Dykes on the roster, Minnesota waived rookie kicker Jack Podlesny, who had joined the Vikings this spring as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia.
Dykes joins the Vikings as an undrafted rookie free agent who played college football at Richmond from his redshirt season of 2018 through 2022.
He appeared in 42 games for the Spiders, totaling 1,980 yards and 16 touchdowns on 470 carries. Dykes added 77 receptions for 750 yards and eight scores through the air and served as a team captain in 2022.
The native of Knoxville, Tennessee, returned 73 kickoffs a total of 1,802 yards (24.7 yards per return) and took three to the house during his college career. Dykes became the first Richmond player to return two kickoffs for touchdowns (100 yards and 88 yards against Delaware) in the same game on Oct. 26, 2019.
View photos of the Vikings 53-man roster as of Jan. 7, 2024.

3 WR Jordan Addison


78 T Hakeem Adeniji

78 T Hakeem Adeniji

33 LB Brian Asamoah II

33 LB Brian Asamoah II

54 LB Anthony Barr

54 LB Anthony Barr

5 CB Mekhi Blackmon


23 CB Andrew Booth Jr.

23 CB Andrew Booth Jr.

56 C Garrett Bradbury

56 C Garrett Bradbury

64 T Blake Brandel

64 T Blake Brandel

90 DL Jonathan Bullard

90 DL Jonathan Bullard

24 S Camryn Bynum

24 S Camryn Bynum

55 OLB Andre Carter II

55 OLB Andre Carter II

32 RB Ty Chandler

32 RB Ty Chandler

6 S Lewis Cine

6 S Lewis Cine

71 T Christian Darrisaw

71 T Christian Darrisaw

52 DL Sheldon Day

52 DL Sheldon Day

42 LS Andrew DePaola

42 LS Andrew DePaola

15 QB Joshua Dobbs

15 QB Joshua Dobbs

21 CB Akayleb Evans

21 CB Akayleb Evans

16 QB Jaren Hall

16 QB Jaren Hall

30 FB C.J. Ham

30 FB C.J. Ham

58 LB Jordan Hicks

58 LB Jordan Hicks

99 OLB Danielle Hunter

99 OLB Danielle Hunter

67 G Ed Ingram

67 G Ed Ingram

81 WR Lucky Jackson

81 WR Lucky Jackson

25 S Theo Jackson

25 S Theo Jackson

18 Justin Jefferson

18 Justin Jefferson

91 OLB Pat Jones II

91 OLB Pat Jones II

1 K Greg Joseph

1 K Greg Joseph

2 RB Alexander Mattison

2 RB Alexander Mattison

44 S Josh Metellus

44 S Josh Metellus

12 QB Nick Mullens

12 QB Nick Mullens

86 TE Johnny Mundt

86 TE Johnny Mundt

7 CB Byron Murphy Jr.

7 CB Byron Murphy Jr.

34 TE Nick Muse

34 TE Nick Muse

26 RB Kene Nwangwu

26 RB Kene Nwangwu

75 T Brian O'Neill

75 T Brian O'Neill

84 TE Josh Oliver

84 TE Josh Oliver

17 WR K.J. Osborn

17 WR K.J. Osborn

40 LB Ivan Pace Jr.

40 LB Ivan Pace Jr.

97 DL Harrison Phillips

97 DL Harrison Phillips

4 WR Brandon Powell

4 WR Brandon Powell

76 T David Quessenberry

76 T David Quessenberry

62 G/C Chris Reed

62 G/C Chris Reed

G Dalton Risner

66 G Dalton Risner

93 DL Jaquelin Roy

93 DL Jaquelin Roy

65 G/C Austin Schlottmann

65 G/C Austin Schlottmann

22 S Harrison Smith

22 S Harrison Smith

50 DL T.J. Smith

50 DL T.J. Smith

11 CB NaJee Thompson

11 CB Najee Thompson

95 DL Khyiris Tonga

95 DL Khyiris Tonga

59 LB Nick Vigil

59 LB Nick Vigil

20 S Jay Ward


14 P Ryan Wright

14 P Ryan Wright
Dykes played high school football at Hardin Valley Academy, which opened in 2008. He finished as the school's all-time leading scorer and ranked second in career rushing yards.
The Vikings are transitioning from having Dalvin Cook as their lead running back since 2017.
Alexander Mattison, who has backed up Cook since 2019, is poised to take the reins as the starter. Minnesota also has Kene Nwangwu, Ty Chandler, DeWayne McBride and Abram Smith at the position. Nwangwu has been sidelined with an undisclosed ailment. Chandler, McBride and Smith played at Seattle in Minnesota's preseason opener.
Podlesny did not play at Seattle and had been taking reps along with veteran kicker Greg Joseph.