Jul 23, 2025; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots defensive sort out Jahvaree Ritzie (93) walks to the observe area for coaching camp at Gillette Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Eric Canha-Imagn Photos
The Minnesota Vikings employed a brand new normal supervisor, Nolan Teasley, earlier this month, and it didn’t take lengthy for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s substitute to tweak the roster. Teasley onboarded a brand new tight and defensive sort out, with about six weeks to go earlier than the beginning of coaching camp.
NBC Sports activities‘ Josh Alper wrote Tuesday, “The Vikings did some roster shuffling on Tuesday. They announced that they have signed tight end Marshall Lang and defensive lineman Jahvaree Ritzie.”
“The two players are joining the team at the end of the offseason program and will have more work to look forward to at this summer’s training camp. The Vikings waived offensive tackle Caleb Etienne and defensive lineman Monkell Goodwine in corresponding moves.”
Right here’s what to find out about these additions.
Vikings Add Extra Measurement to Each Sides of the Ball
Seattle Seahawks tight finish Marshall Lang is introduced down by Inexperienced Bay Packers linebacker Kristian Welch throughout second-half preseason motion at Lambeau Area. The play occurred on Aug. 23, 2025, in Inexperienced Bay as Lang continued his push for a roster spot whereas showcasing his versatility and toughness towards an NFC opponent in exhibition competitors. Necessary Credit score: Kayla Wolf-Imagn Photos
Marshall Lang (TE)
Lang is an enormous tight finish who will firmly match on the roster bubble. He spent 5 seasons at Northwestern, steadily rising his involvement after a quiet freshman 12 months. From 2022 to 2024, he developed right into a dependable receiving possibility, concluding his faculty profession with 48 catches, 491 yards, and 4 touchdowns. Whereas these statistics aren’t totally spectacular, they have been enough to draw NFL curiosity. He was additionally a teammate of recent Vikings offensive sort out Caleb Tiernan at Northwestern.
His profession path to date has been typical for an undrafted tight finish: bouncing between observe squads and aspiring to some long-term endurance, with out securing a everlasting NFL roster spot. The Vikings are probably evaluating him as a low-risk possibility, contemplating his measurement and blocking potential. That’s what June free-agent signings are for.
Lang has by no means taken an NFL snap within the common season.
Jahvaree Ritzie (DT)
Ritzie, a developmental defensive lineman, brings sufficient collegiate manufacturing so as to add a little bit of intrigue to the Vikings’ summer season roster.
He performed 4 seasons at North Carolina, showing in 51 video games and evolving from a rotational participant into a big contributor on the entrance seven. His senior season was significantly spectacular: 40 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, an interception, 2 move deflections, and a couple of pressured fumbles.
New England Patriots defensive sort out Jahvaree Ritzie pursues New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito throughout third-quarter preseason motion at MetLife Stadium. The defensive lineman utilized strain on Aug. 21, 2025, in East Rutherford as he continued competing for alternatives alongside New England’s defensive entrance throughout the closing phases of preseason analysis. Necessary Credit score: Mark Smith-Imagn Photos
Undrafted in 2025, Ritzie initially signed with the Patriots, landed on their observe squad, and was launched in early September. Pittsburgh later signed him to a futures contract in January however waived him in Could.
Ritzie clearly isn’t a can’t-miss celebrity. His journey displays the standard NFL grind for gamers on the roster bubble: possessing good measurement and a few faculty highlights, experiencing brief excursions with groups, and constantly trying to find the proper match. For Minnesota, his enchantment is clear. Ritzie presents energy and enough pass-rush manufacturing to warrant a more in-depth look. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores can at all times make the most of one other massive participant able to disrupting opposing offenses. Flores did the identical factor in latest months by signing Isaiahh Loudermilk, Eric Johnson, Smith Vilbert.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein famous on Ritize earlier than the 2025 NFL Draft, “Ritzie put together solid production in his first season as a full-time starter. He plays with adequate early hands and good base width to take on blocks but sets shallow anchors against add-on blockers that prevent him from effectively defending his turf.”
“Ritzie isn’t quick enough or explosive enough for me to project disruption from him in either phase. He might be fighting for a back-end roster spot in camp.”
Like Lang, Ritzie doesn’t have common season expertise.
The Up to date TE Room
The Vikings have a full home at tight finish, which is why Lang should stand off the web page at coaching camp and within the preseason to have a shot on the energetic roster. Right here’s the pecking order in mid-June:
T.J. Hockenson
Josh Oliver
Ben Yurosek
Gavin Bartholomew
Bryson Nesbit
Marshall Lang
Lang will principally must outperform Yurosek or Bartholomew within the coming months, a activity most wouldn’t contemplate insurmountable. Minnesota, too, may preserve 4 tight ends on the 53-man roster, strengthening Lang’s case for the primary common season motion of his younger profession.
Northwestern Wildcats tight finish Marshall Lang celebrates after scoring a landing throughout third-quarter motion towards Duke at Wallace Wade Stadium. The second unfolded on Sep. 18, 2021, in Durham as Lang helped present an offensive spark for Northwestern and added one of many early scoring highlights of his collegiate profession. Necessary Credit score: William Howard-USA TODAY Sports activities
The previous Seahawk may very well be a chief candidate for the observe squad.
The DTs
Minnesota has been on a heater in including new inside defensive linemen since April. The membership reduce ties with Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave in March, however that was just the start. Right here’s the group in the meanwhile:
Jalen Redmond
Caleb Banks
Domonique Orange
Levi Drake Rodriguez
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
Isaiahh Loudermilk
Eric Johnson
Smith Vilbert
Taki Taimani
Elijah Williams
Jahvaree Ritzie
Ritize faces an especially lengthy shot to make the energetic roster, primarily as a result of Redmond, Banks, Orange, Rodriguez, and Ingram-Dawkins appear uncuttable. Nonetheless, like Lang, a observe squad task is inside attain.
Lang will flip 25 in October, and Ritzie celebrated his twenty third birthday in January.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
