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Sincere McCormick #28 of the Las Vegas Raiders runs with the ball against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Minnesota Vikings are bracing to close out the season against the Green Bay Packers, and have made a potentially telling roster decision with Sincere McCormick.
As is often the case with any roster move at this late stage of the NFL calendar, McCormick’s arrival accompanied another player losing their spot on the roster. It had no direct impact. Still, it is part of the balancing act that the Vikings and other teams have had to manage all season.
The significance of the decision will likely become clearer as the week plays out.
Vikings Announce Deal With Sincere McCormick
GettySincere McCormick #28 of the Las Vegas Raiders runs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Vikings announced with a post on X on December 31 that they “signed RB Sincere McCormick to the practice squad.”
McCormick, 25, is a fourth-year former undrafted free agent out of UTSA.
He began his career with the Las Vegas Raiders, where he turned heads when given opportunities. McCormick rushed for 183 yards on 39 carries across five games (two starts) in 2024. That was his only career regular-season action.
He has since spent time with the Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, and, most recently, the Denver Broncos.
McCormick is clear about what he brings to the table.
Per The Denver Post’s Luca Evans on December 12, McCormick said that the Broncos pursued him after losing J.K. Dobbins to a Lisfranc injury, and that they wanted him as a “bigger back” at 5-foot-9 and 215 pounds than what they otherwise had on their roster.
McCormick can fill a similar role in the regular-season finale in the Vikings’ offense under head coach Kevin O’Connell.
Vikings Beat Jets for Sincere McCormick
GettySincere McCormick #47 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrates against the San Francisco 49ers.
For the Vikings, McCormick arrives amid injury concerns for Aaron Jones (ankle) and, even more, top backup Jordan Mason (ankle). Mason missed Week 17 against the Detroit Lions.
The Vikings had some competition for McCormick, too.
“After getting stranded at Chicago-O’hare airport overnight on his way to #Jets for a tryout, before boarding his plane home, the Vikings got him a last minute flight into Minneapolis and worked him out this morning,” KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson reported on X on December 31. “Sincere McCormick is signing to the #Vikings practice squad today.”
Jones and Mason’s practice participation will determine if McCormick gets called up to the Vikings’ game-day roster for the finale against the Packers.
The Vikings also have Ty Chandler and Zavier Scott on their 53-man roster.
The Vikings and Jets share a noteworthy recent history, specifically the trade that yielded J.J. McCarthy for Minnesota, adding another layer of intrigue to McCormick’s final landing spot of the season.
Vikings Waive Anthony Keys
GettyAustin Keys #56 of the Minnesota Vikings reacts during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
In addition to McCormick’s addition, the Vikings announced they “waived LB Austin Keys,” creating an opening on their 53-man roster.
Keys is a rookie UDFA who has played in 11 games for the Vikings this season. He has 7 total tackles and 1.0 sacks this season. Those stats notably came on one of eight defensive snaps (compared to 191 on special teams, per Pro Football Reference).
His departure is somewhat surprising, given the Vikings’ apparent optimism and his play.
“Austin Keys got nearly $250K guaranteed to sign with the Vikings, tied for the third-most in their loaded class of undrafted free agents,” Minnesota Vikings on SI’s Will Ragatz wrote in July. “That indicates they see something in him as a candidate to make their roster this year or at least stick around on the practice squad as a potential future contributor. That almost certainly starts on special teams, where his combination of speed and physicality could serve him well.”
The Vikings have three open roster spots on their practice squad, even after adding McCormick, which could be where Keys, whom Ragatz called a “sleeper,” is headed if he clears waivers.
Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter
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