Vikings Replace Carson Wentz by Snagging Packers Tight End
The Minnesota Vikings have placed quarterback Carson Wentz on injured reserve and filled the open roster spot by taking a familiar face from their NFC North rivals, the Green Bay Packers.
On Monday, October 27, the Vikings claimed tight end Ben Sims off waivers after the Packers released him to make room for wide receiver Christian Watson, who was returning from an ACL injury.
The move served as a bit of a reunion for Sims, who originally got his start with Minnesota during the 2023 offseason. The Vikings had signed him as an undrafted rookie out of Baylor, and while he impressed during training camp, he was ultimately released before the final 53-man roster cut. Green Bay quickly claimed him off waivers, keeping him within the division.
Since joining the Packers, the 25-year-old Sims appeared in six games, logging 414 offensive snaps and 187 special teams snaps. He recorded eight catches for 63 yards and one touchdown, though he played primarily in a reserve role behind Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave.
Sims credited his early development to the mentorship he received in Minnesota’s tight end room, calling his time there instrumental to his growth.
“I was pleased with the way I was coached,” Sims said in a previous interview. “The older tight ends in Minnesota really helped me and went out of their way to be there for me.”
At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, Sims ran a sub-4.6 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and was viewed as an athletic tight end capable of contributing as both a receiver and a blocker. With Josh Oliver nursing a foot injury suffered in Week 8 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sims could see immediate action.
Meanwhile, the Vikings’ quarterback situation remains uncertain following Carson Wentz’s season-ending shoulder surgery. Despite battling through pain for weeks behind a banged-up offensive line, Wentz’s injury finally caught up to him in the loss to the Chargers.
According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Wentz was pressured on 53.1% of his dropbacks, taking five sacks and five hits while completing only two passes in the fourth quarter as his shoulder worsened.
With Wentz sidelined, the Vikings will rely on J.J. McCarthy and Max Brosmer for the remainder of the season, though the team is expected to sign a veteran quarterback to bolster depth.
By claiming Sims, the Vikings not only addressed a depth need at tight end but also took advantage of an opportunity to reclaim a player familiar with their system—at the expense of their biggest rival.
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