EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Vikings on Tuesday announced a total of six transactions affecting their practice squad.
The Vikings announced they have signed offensive lineman Austin Shepherd, defensive end Sterling Bailey (Georgia) and defensive back Cedric Thompson (Minnesota).
The team also announced the release of tight ends Kyle Carter (Penn State) and Brian Leonhardt (Bemidji State) and quarterback Joel Stave (Wisconsin).
Shepherd is rejoining the Vikings after spending all of 2015 on Minnesota's 53-man roster. The Vikings selected him in the seventh round with the 228th overall pick. He was released during roster reductions before the season.
Bailey entered the NFL with the Colts in May as an undrafted free agent. He has spent time on the Indianapolis and Seattle practice squads this season. Bailey started 10 of 13 games played in 2015, recording 46 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack.
Thompson was drafted by the Dolphins in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He started 32 games for the Golden Gophers, including all 13 played in 2014 when he finished second on the team with 83 tackles. Thompson tallied 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, two pass breakups and forced two fumbles in his senior season.
