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](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/udx4od0orm3xhjkkav2m.jpg)
3 WR Jordan Addison
![AddisonAction](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/gxhbxcmpotqoh73zhvlw.jpg)
![78 T Hakeem Adeniji](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/nlts83ndip7wmuxglgxv.jpg)
78 T Hakeem Adeniji
![78 T Hakeem Adeniji](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/iwxofihrb3zlfuxg0dse.jpg)
78 T Hakeem Adeniji
![33 LB Brian Asamoah II](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/wd7wh6wxhnhvkuwjjjse.jpg)
33 LB Brian Asamoah II
![33 LB Brian Asamoah II](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/twntrdll3mljw1yla0hi.jpg)
33 LB Brian Asamoah II
![54 LB Anthony Barr](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/mz7pfwoygtokrgehyig9.jpg)
54 LB Anthony Barr
![54 LB Anthony Barr](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/ug2usoktqol9lo0hsf9m.jpg)
54 LB Anthony Barr
![5 CB Mekhi Blackmon](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/urugsbnwf5z3rhpb3dno.jpg)
5 CB Mekhi Blackmon
![MekhiBlackmonAction](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/ttjrnpndbcy9axr0v5ow.jpg)
![23 CB Andrew Booth Jr.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/najipm0zpa0wvat2x5or.jpg)
23 CB Andrew Booth Jr.
![23 CB Andrew Booth Jr.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/expcgy8qz0tfqvw2vbar.jpg)
23 CB Andrew Booth Jr.
![56 C Garrett Bradbury](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/cpkqkeftphlmkxlvo9db.jpg)
56 C Garrett Bradbury
![56 C Garrett Bradbury](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/gorbellher4tdgdtqx4p.jpg)
56 C Garrett Bradbury
![64 T Blake Brandel](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/c2kuomlk35pyb3u5cksn.jpg)
64 T Blake Brandel
![64 T Blake Brandel](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/gcpjjmtoqtmawmov5nai.jpg)
64 T Blake Brandel
![90 DL Jonathan Bullard](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/edznvg4ub8ve935ihvga.jpg)
90 DL Jonathan Bullard
![90 DL Jonathan Bullard](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/yhzr9x3vknfjpsxddxul.jpg)
90 DL Jonathan Bullard
![24 S Camryn Bynum](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/xwi5rddzf8w12az83xe0.jpg)
24 S Camryn Bynum
![24 S Camryn Bynum](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/qmrqovjlf78zainjxnhs.jpg)
24 S Camryn Bynum
![55 OLB Andre Carter II](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/pfor0ngitwktierhdocp.jpg)
55 OLB Andre Carter II
![55 OLB Andre Carter II](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/kyol2azebqcugas2lchi.jpg)
55 OLB Andre Carter II
![32 RB Ty Chandler](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/pakolleac1sgecfad49o.jpg)
32 RB Ty Chandler
![32 RB Ty Chandler](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/asiqpy2c62in5m8abskz.jpg)
32 RB Ty Chandler
![6 S Lewis Cine](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/rgq8l5mixu7u9sbjxrbw.jpg)
6 S Lewis Cine
![6 S Lewis Cine](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/y5ipo7yajcwcnsbaqaea.jpg)
6 S Lewis Cine
![71 T Christian Darrisaw](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/al5vjstpbrrhy2jyly9x.jpg)
71 T Christian Darrisaw
![71 T Christian Darrisaw](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/ohkaqj0imzbo8nobvssa.jpg)
71 T Christian Darrisaw
![52 DL Sheldon Day](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/yims0j3s4fcilrzjentu.jpg)
52 DL Sheldon Day
![52 DL Sheldon Day](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/elxujpe4gqbvh0htuldv.jpg)
52 DL Sheldon Day
![42 LS Andrew DePaola](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/a6trw8megriemqpzlo0z.jpg)
42 LS Andrew DePaola
![42 LS Andrew DePaola](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/fltwg6dxxfhb0syt78ff.jpg)
42 LS Andrew DePaola
![15 QB Joshua Dobbs](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/pfxsud2a49tbkqm5ai7v.jpg)
15 QB Joshua Dobbs
![15 QB Joshua Dobbs](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/n5havel7lbh2zru8l0xd.jpg)
15 QB Joshua Dobbs
![21 CB Akayleb Evans](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/gaaxvolwbgplp351reom.jpg)
21 CB Akayleb Evans
![21 CB Akayleb Evans](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/lbwjt2xljnlh9bpena23.jpg)
21 CB Akayleb Evans
![16 QB Jaren Hall](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/lservh8az6stxtgopw3f.jpg)
16 QB Jaren Hall
![16 QB Jaren Hall](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/rec34druyvo2n8r3kvse.jpg)
16 QB Jaren Hall
![30 FB C.J. Ham](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/igu0qgwwchr97tfduijq.jpg)
30 FB C.J. Ham
![30 FB C.J. Ham](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/wxuwq2o8cfgln0xwnqxj.jpg)
30 FB C.J. Ham
![58 LB Jordan Hicks](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/qmjm3oh8q3g9gmfzbn3f.jpg)
58 LB Jordan Hicks
![58 LB Jordan Hicks](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/x5n7qbkq6f0kktqhkfvn.jpg)
58 LB Jordan Hicks
![99 OLB Danielle Hunter](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/qlmz8med8zkqcwjizd0v.jpg)
99 OLB Danielle Hunter
![99 OLB Danielle Hunter](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/kscfhtq3xmgxuob0vlra.jpg)
99 OLB Danielle Hunter
![67 G Ed Ingram](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/emp8d6kacnhw4tusoeco.jpg)
67 G Ed Ingram
![67 G Ed Ingram](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/w1wcfivhg9cp7yewjuz4.jpg)
67 G Ed Ingram
![81 WR Lucky Jackson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/nsrt16pgxyfzk7dlo7q8.jpg)
81 WR Lucky Jackson
![81 WR Lucky Jackson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/b64scee4wjfnaliieiid.jpg)
81 WR Lucky Jackson
![25 S Theo Jackson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/mkvigqdivys64n478heb.jpg)
25 S Theo Jackson
![25 S Theo Jackson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/dzzsbaoodvf5v90gfato.jpg)
25 S Theo Jackson
![18 Justin Jefferson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/khf290vvpmianqyyxsbd.jpg)
18 Justin Jefferson
![18 Justin Jefferson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/pbkthmfskism3dcpohh8.jpg)
18 Justin Jefferson
![91 OLB Pat Jones II](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/l7smipnertmq4esxpihi.jpg)
91 OLB Pat Jones II
![91 OLB Pat Jones II](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/w2x0yg1e2qnhy0oxsf47.jpg)
91 OLB Pat Jones II
![1 K Greg Joseph](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/akmkwu2g334pjdhiubmq.jpg)
1 K Greg Joseph
![1 K Greg Joseph](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/zngjw3wjx2ashvt3ga6m.jpg)
1 K Greg Joseph
![2 RB Alexander Mattison](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/dyj3iubyzq84grhzzljh.jpg)
2 RB Alexander Mattison
![2 RB Alexander Mattison](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/f1ojvxajbabdselqrg13.jpg)
2 RB Alexander Mattison
![44 S Josh Metellus](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/haak2cnsaxwtqmcg62wc.jpg)
44 S Josh Metellus
![44 S Josh Metellus](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/nr9o6lk2d2rp56mfaouq.jpg)
44 S Josh Metellus
![12 QB Nick Mullens](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/lvdovdpytuyldncwup25.jpg)
12 QB Nick Mullens
![12 QB Nick Mullens](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/ic9zbv1vbwon4lhjmohi.jpg)
12 QB Nick Mullens
![86 TE Johnny Mundt](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/hcppjsonkszrenyu4piv.jpg)
86 TE Johnny Mundt
![86 TE Johnny Mundt](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/nbgxcnlp1kl9afixilxj.jpg)
86 TE Johnny Mundt
![7 CB Byron Murphy Jr.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/ryaelq6du33spppy5yup.jpg)
7 CB Byron Murphy Jr.
![7 CB Byron Murphy Jr.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/xeusnqjxurr6mdh1jxap.jpg)
7 CB Byron Murphy Jr.
![34 TE Nick Muse](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/d0d4ek9xcligjphrk2ef.jpg)
34 TE Nick Muse
![34 TE Nick Muse](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/ucryquneeoalqi4mnjy6.jpg)
34 TE Nick Muse
![26 RB Kene Nwangwu](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/l2h4kl6okn8a26kpptor.jpg)
26 RB Kene Nwangwu
![26 RB Kene Nwangwu](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/gj8fmvanwjd1jlaflb4t.jpg)
26 RB Kene Nwangwu
![75 T Brian O'Neill](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/vj2nn9yccwzxjd6tpw5l.jpg)
75 T Brian O'Neill
![75 T Brian O'Neill](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/qbetso5nftkehawfmgeg.jpg)
75 T Brian O'Neill
![84 TE Josh Oliver](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/ufq5whhpqvtbnffpve5s.jpg)
84 TE Josh Oliver
![84 TE Josh Oliver](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/lqgqlqqjmimwk3pvfjfk.jpg)
84 TE Josh Oliver
![17 WR K.J. Osborn](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/eyhwo72dmmdbgjqhub8r.jpg)
17 WR K.J. Osborn
![17 WR K.J. Osborn](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/mhaiwbw0406twxwmeap9.jpg)
17 WR K.J. Osborn
![40 LB Ivan Pace Jr.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/j21g2a3yyrcjn97htl7v.jpg)
40 LB Ivan Pace Jr.
![40 LB Ivan Pace Jr.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/o2bsnos3rbvsc04zuvtj.jpg)
40 LB Ivan Pace Jr.
![97 DL Harrison Phillips](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/nuys4h5gem4rtpbzuuw9.jpg)
97 DL Harrison Phillips
![97 DL Harrison Phillips](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/gwddoelgfivwcsdoycyb.jpg)
97 DL Harrison Phillips
![4 WR Brandon Powell](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/r5h96gpyqrzbme31cvtj.jpg)
4 WR Brandon Powell
![4 WR Brandon Powell](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/xyofqehfoik1sjseml77.jpg)
4 WR Brandon Powell
![76 T David Quessenberry](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/l6xtphb00dtqlt16cdmc.jpg)
76 T David Quessenberry
![76 T David Quessenberry](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/po3kxsnbtcwynhrtzq8b.jpg)
76 T David Quessenberry
![62 G/C Chris Reed](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/cuwjugmj6snujlodf0uw.jpg)
62 G/C Chris Reed
![62 G/C Chris Reed](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/k6ifkqdcnqrozthjlhpn.jpg)
62 G/C Chris Reed
![G Dalton Risner](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/ydrzkxptjwlila8iwmuk.jpg)
G Dalton Risner
![66 G Dalton Risner](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/f2ifzu3nfqlrytkbnrqv.jpg)
66 G Dalton Risner
![93 DL Jaquelin Roy](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/i4opxktfkr4rbngjg63d.jpg)
93 DL Jaquelin Roy
![93 DL Jaquelin Roy](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/flkzr28bu944st3xjlaw.jpg)
93 DL Jaquelin Roy
![65 G/C Austin Schlottmann](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/kxass0a17qdsqjpsfbj3.jpg)
65 G/C Austin Schlottmann
![65 G/C Austin Schlottmann](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/ga19l7brha2l5kepauwt.jpg)
65 G/C Austin Schlottmann
![22 S Harrison Smith](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/wtimpogylyroftqq4srx.jpg)
22 S Harrison Smith
![22 S Harrison Smith](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/sw4eunglu85rbjdli7ke.jpg)
22 S Harrison Smith
![50 DL T.J. Smith](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/nnzriq2vmanthotpwglf.jpg)
50 DL T.J. Smith
![50 DL T.J. Smith](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/xl6xgltgpohlkwxyshd1.jpg)
50 DL T.J. Smith
![11 CB NaJee Thompson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/unxdeebyxgy7uqvmkmuz.jpg)
11 CB NaJee Thompson
![11 CB Najee Thompson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/yk4rverwircy0ziscem7.jpg)
11 CB Najee Thompson
![95 DL Khyiris Tonga](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/mzuiqymh2vqnwpgd4jif.jpg)
95 DL Khyiris Tonga
![95 DL Khyiris Tonga](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/gi3nqmcqyxdciavje8qm.jpg)
95 DL Khyiris Tonga
![59 LB Nick Vigil](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/oqxgnomlhed360mhg8xp.jpg)
59 LB Nick Vigil
![59 LB Nick Vigil](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/cafjq7nv3ff9u85pyv9v.jpg)
59 LB Nick Vigil
![20 S Jay Ward](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/d9qbhj5nvify65nnzuih.jpg)
20 S Jay Ward
![WardAction2](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/th2oxrn2yqegunrvguuw.jpg)
![14 P Ryan Wright](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/xb9v2evyewnczkxcsjqp.jpg)
14 P Ryan Wright
![14 P Ryan Wright](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/vikings/y53rxzmrjrif7se8lisk.jpg)
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.