After the first week of practice, the Vikings will transition to contact practice on Monday when the pads come on. One guy who was rostered in recent months won’t be part of that group, as the franchise announced a pair of roster moves on Sunday.
The moves were announced on the club’s website: “The Vikings on Sunday signed rookie cornerback Jarod Washington and waived rookie running back Kejon Owens, who opened camp with a non-football illness designation.”
Owens was initially signed right after the draft to complete the running back room led by veterans Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason as well as last year’s RB3 Zavier Scott and rookie Demond Claiborne. He racked up over 1300 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in his fifth and final season at Florida International.
After participating throughout the offseason program, his first stint with the Vikings has now ended a few days after being placed on the NFI list with an unspecified illness. Once healthy, a return is possible if the Vikings see potential in the rookie.
Last week, the team added Jordan Mims as another depth option. The 27-year-old had his most prominent stint with the Saints from 2023 to 2024, appearing in 13 games, mostly as a rotational third-down running back with good hands. Given the depth at running back, he’ll face an uphill battle over the next few weeks to earn a roster spot.
In the meantime, cornerback Washington will join the club in time for the padded practices. The Vikings wrote about him, “Washington was not drafted out of South Carolina State this spring but participated in rookie minicamps with Kansas City and Tampa Bay. The Virginia native is listed at 6-foot-2 and 188 pounds.”
Washington’s signing could simply be a depth move, but it’s worth noting that free-agent signing James Pierre didn’t appear on the practice field on Saturday and might have suffered an injury.
“In his lone season with the Bulldogs, Washington played 12 games, totaling 33 tackles (30 solo), one tackle for loss, two interceptions, 22 passes defended and a forced fumble. He helped South Carolina State win the 2025 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship, its second straight title. Washington participated in the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl and stood out as the fastest player there, clocking in at a speed of 21.33 miles per hour.”
At corner, the Vikings employ last year’s starters, Byron Murphy and Isaiah Rodgers. Pierre joined in free agency to complete the presumed top trio. In case of injury, defensive coordinator Brian Flores will rely on younger players, such as rookie fifth-rounder Charles Demmings or last year’s undrafted rookie Zemaiah Vaughn, who have both gotten mostly positive reviews in the first week of camp.
Interestingly, Vaughn is 6’3″ and Demmings 6’1″, while both also possess upper-echelon explosiveness just like the 6’2″ Washington. Add undrafted 6’1″ rookies Marcus Allen and Da’Veawn Armstead and you get the sense that the Vikings are trying to find a young, developmental corner with a prototypical athletic profile.
Whether Washington ultimately sticks around beyond August remains to be seen. Most players signed at this stage of training camp are simply trying to earn another week on the roster. Still, opportunities can appear quickly in the NFL, particularly at cornerback where injuries are common and strong preseason performances often reshape depth charts.
For now, the move is primarily about giving Brian Flores another developmental athlete to evaluate. Washington joins a young group of lengthy, explosive cornerbacks all competing for the same handful of roster and practice-squad spots. If he can capitalize on the extra reps over the next few weeks, Sunday’s transaction could prove to be more than just another routine roster move. Otherwise, the Vikings will continue cycling through young talent in search of their next defensive gem.
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