EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings (8-2) on Saturday activated tight end Nick Muse from Injured Reserve and elevated long snapper Jake McQuaide from the practice squad a day before facing the Bears (4-6) in Chicago.
To make room for Muse's return from the 53-man roster, Minnesota waived cornerback Akayleb Evans.
Minnesota also announced outside linebacker Gabriel Murphy (knee) has been ruled out. The rookie is in his 21-day evaluation window in his return from a training camp injury.
View photos of the Vikings 53-man roster as of December 3, 2024.
Muse returned to practice Wednesday. He had been on Injured Reserve since Sept. 18 after sustaining a "small fracture" in his hand in Week 2 against San Francisco.
The 2022 seventh-round pick has appeared in 14 games, playing 156 snaps on special teams and five on offense. His lone career target so far resulted in a 22-yard reception at Detroit in the 2023 regular-season finale.
Minnesota is without tight end Josh Oliver this week because of an ankle injury suffered last week at Tennessee, so Muse will join T.J. Hockenson and Johnny Mundt.
Evans, a 2022 fourth-round pick, has played in 32 career games with 17 starts. After starting 15 games and playing 855 defensive snaps in 2023, Evans has played three defensive snaps and 83 on special teams in seven games this season.
View photos of Vikings players in their travel day outfits as they head to Chicago for the Week 12 matchup against the Bears.
McQuaide is being elevated for the third consecutive week. He signed to the practice squad on Nov. 7, a day after Minnesota placed long snapper Andrew DePaola on Injured Reserve.
McQuaide, who will turn 37 in December, has played 202 games (192 regular season, 10 postseason). McQuaide's postseason action includes playing 12 snaps for the Rams in Super Bowl LIII and seven for the Lions in last season's NFC Championship Game.
The two-time Pro Bowler (2016 and 2017 seasons) played for the Rams from 2011-20, Cowboys (2021-22) and Lions (2023).
He teamed with Vikings Special Teams Coordinator Matt Daniels at the Rams from 2012-14 and reunited with him while Daniels was the team's assistant special teams coach (2018-19) and again in Dallas (2021), where Daniels held the same role before his hire by Minnesota.