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.
