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Minnesota Vikings Announce 7 Practice Squad Signings and Sign J'Marcus Webb, Cut Troy Kropog

The Minnesota Vikings have nearly finished signing their practice squad players and announced seven of the eight members. They've also signed J'Marcus Webb and cut Troy Kropog

Jonathan Daniel

Per the Minnesota Vikings official website:

The Vikings announced on Sunday that the club has signed seven players to the team's practice squad. NFL teams can carry up to eight players on the practice squad so one spot remains empty as of Sunday morning.

RB Joe Banyard
G Travis Bond
DT Everett Dawkins
TE Chase Ford
T Kevin Murphy
WR Rodney Smith
WR Adam Thielen

The Vikings also claimed former Bears T J'Marcus Webb on Sunday, adding him to the 53-man roster. To make room for Webb, T Troy Kropog was released.

The practice squad doesn't hold too many surprises, and the Vikings were able to retain drafted rookies Travis Bond and Everett Dawkins, as well as practice squad holdovers from last year, Joe Banyard and Kevin Murphy. Two players on last year's practice squad—George Johnson and Chase Baker—made the roster, while Bobby Felder was invited to camp but evidently not to the 2013 practice squad.

Undrafted free agent wide receivers were the most likely receiver practice squad candidates as both impressed throughout the offseason at different times. Chase Ford, another undrafted free agent, flashed potential in his time with the Vikings and earned a spot on the practice squad for a team that carries only three tight ends.

J'Marcus Webb was the oft-beaten tackle for the Chicago Bears, who ranked 48th of 58 offensive tackles in pass blocking efficiency by Pro Football Focus in 2011 as a left tackle. A year later as a right tackle, he ranked 36th of 52. Over those two seasons, he gave up 19 sacks, 11 hits and 30 hurries.

Not an impact starter, but the Vikings obviously hope that Webb can provide quality depth while developing into a new man with the Vikings. A fresh start could mean all the world to the former West Texas A&M Graduate.

Troy Kropog was released, which comes as no big surprise. Despite only carrying 8 offensive linemen, the two tackles ahead of Kropog on the depth chart—Brandon Keith and Kevin Murphy—didn't make the roster, and Kropog likely didn't have a strong hold on the position. He gave up a sack and a hurry in the preseason.

Kropog does not have a single Accrued Season with the NFL as he was never active for six or more games in a single season of NFL play, He has also spent no time on an NFL practice squad, making him eligible for the practice squad with the Vikings. Given that he's only been active for seven total games in his career, the Vikings could stash him on the practice squad once he clears waivers.

The question here is how to organize the nameplates for Joe Webb and J'Marcus Webb. Perhaps J.Webb and J'Webb would look good.