Vikings sign former Panthers tight end Colin Thompson

The Vikings made a few roster moves ahead of Tuesday's full-team report date for training camp at TCO Performance Center in Eagan.

Former Panthers tight end Colin Thompson signed on Monday. He inked a one-year deal with Minnesota, per his agent Pat Capra. The Vikings also placed undrafted rookie edge rusher Andre Carter II on the physically unable to perform list, and veteran guard Chris Reed has been put on the non-football injury list.

The Vikings also waived receiver Malik Knowles, an undrafted signing out of Kansas State, with a non-football injury designation. The team signed guard Jack Snyder, an undrafted signing by the Rams last year, to take Knowles' roster spot. Thompson replaces cornerback John Reid, who was waived last week after two months with the team.

Thompson, 29, joins his fourth NFL team — and the NFL is the third football league the undrafted tight end has played in during his journeyman career. He's spent the past three years in Carolina, appearing in 26 games during the 2020 and 2021 seasons before being relegated to the practice squad last year. Before that, he bounced around the Giants, Bears, Birmingham Iron (Alliance of American Football) and Tampa Bay Vipers (XFL).

Thompson has one career catch in the NFL: a 7-yard touchdown against the Buccaneers during the 2020 season. He's also an experienced long snapper.

He would give the Vikings a blocking option behind the pecking order of T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver and Johnny Mundt. The team also has tight ends Nick Muse (a 2022 seventh-round pick) and undrafted rookie Ben Sims on the training camp roster.

Former Vikings tight end Ben Ellefson, the Hawley native, retired in June at 26 years old due to injuries. He transitioned to an intern role with the team exploring coaching and scouting opportunities.