Already, the Vikings saying goodbye to a particular offensive lineman is becoming a bit of a habit.
Undrafted rookie Tristan Leigh got brought to the Twin Cities following the 2026 NFL Draft. He didn’t crack the 53-man roster but did find a home on the practice squad. What has followed has been the roster version of a yo-yo as Minnesota grinds the depth in search of the needed solutions as the season progresses. Per the team itself, Leigh has yet again been shown the door.
Vikings Say Goodbye to Young OL
Consider the roster moves involving Minnesota and Leigh:
- April 26, 2026: Signed Leigh to Offseason Roster
- August 30, 2026: Waived Leigh Ahead of 53-Man Roster Deadline
- August 31, 2026: Signed Leigh to PS
- September 2, 2026: Waived Leigh from PS
- October 6th, 2026: Signed Leigh to PS
- October 23rd, 2026: Released Leigh from PS
Been a wild ride, eh?
Moving on from him comes due to the need to create open room to re-sign Jihad Ward. The simple one-for-one math involves Brian Flores beefing up his side of the trenches while Kevin O’Connell gets a touch thinner on his side of the trenches.
The word on Leigh is that he’s an upside option coming off a poor college career. Or, at least, one that was somewhat disappointing since he arrived at Clemson with some promise and expectations.
A diamond in the rough, Leigh appears to be somebody worth investing in, albeit in a manner that’s away from the spotlight of Sunday pressure.
The Vikings currently boast a deep offensive tackle spot due to the presence of LT1 Christian Darrisaw alongside RT1 Brian O’Neill. Next up is OT3 Ryan Van Demark and rookie OT4 Caleb Tiernan, both of whom have been worked into the mix in Week 4 and Week 5 due to injuries opening the door to playing time.
Moving forward, Tristan Leigh is a name to remember since Minnesota has tipped its hand several times. The leadership evidently thinks he boasts some potential. Not so much that they won’t let him out of their sight but enough to bring him back if there’s an open slot.
Next up for Minnesota is a Week 7 game against the Indianapolis Colts.