EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings (8-2) on Saturday activated tight end Nick Muse from Injured Reserve and elevated long snapper Jake McQuaide from the practice squad a day before facing the Bears (4-6) in Chicago.
To make room for Muse's return from the 53-man roster, Minnesota waived cornerback Akayleb Evans.
Minnesota also announced outside linebacker Gabriel Murphy (knee) has been ruled out. The rookie is in his 21-day evaluation window in his return from a training camp injury.
View photos of the Vikings 53-man roster as of January 14, 2024.
3 WR Jordan Addison
3 WR Jordan Addison
RB Cam Akers
RB Cam Akers
6 LB Brian Asamoah II
6 LB Brian Asamoah II
56 C Garrett Bradbury
56 C Garrett Bradbury
64 G Blake Brandel
64 G Blake Brandel
90 DL Jonathan Bullard
90 DL Jonathan Bullard
24 S Camryn Bynum
24 S Camryn Bynum
51 LB Blake Cashman
51 LB Blake Cashman
32 RB Ty Chandler
32 RB Ty Chandler
14 QB Sam Darnold
QB Sam Darnold
42 LS Andrew DePaola
42 LS Andrew DePaola
69 C/G Dan Feeney
69 C Dan Feeney
2 CB Stephon Gilmore
2 CB Stephon Gilmore
58 OLB Jonathan Greenard
58 OLB Jonathan Greenard
1 CB Shaq Griffin
1 CB Shaq Griffin
54 LB Kamu Grugier-Hill
54 LB Kamu Grugier-Hill
30 FB C.J. Ham
30 FB C.J. Ham
87 TE TJ Hockenson
87 TE T.J. Hockenson
67 G Ed Ingram
67 G Ed Ingram
26 S Theo Jackson
26 S Theo Jackson
18 WR Justin Jefferson
18 WR Justin Jefferson
33 RB Aaron Jones Sr.
33 RB Aaron Jones
13 QB Daniel Jones
13 QB Daniel Jones
91 OLB Pat Jones II
91 OLB Pat Jones II
65 OL Michael Jurgens
65 G Michael Jurgens
29 CB Dwight McGlothern
29 CB Dwight McGlothern
44 S Josh Metellus
44 S Joshua Metellus
23 CB Fabian Moreau
23 CB Fabian Moreau
12 QB Nick Mullens
12 QB Nick Mullens
86 TE Johnny Mundt
86 TE Johnny Mundt
7 CB Byron Murphy
7 CB Byron Murphy Jr.
83 WR Jalen Nailor
83 WR Jalen Nailor
75 T Brian O'Neill
75 T Brian O'Neill
84 TE Josh Oliver
84 TE Josh Oliver
0 LB Ivan Pace Jr.
0 LB Ivan Pace Jr.
57 DL Harrison Phillips
97 DL Harrison Phillips
4 WR Brandon Powell
4 WR Brandon Powell
76 T David Quessenberry
76 T David Quessenberry
61 DL Jalen Redmond
61 DL Jalen Redmond
16 K Will Reichard
16 K Will Reichard
98 OLB Bo Richter
98 OLB Bo Richter
66 G Dalton Risner
66 G Dalton Risner
74 T Cam Robinson
74 T Cam Robinson
50 DL Levi Drake Rodriguez
DL Levi Drake Rodriguez
78 T Walter Rouse
78 T Walter Rouse
11 WR Trent Sherfield Sr.
11 WR Trent Sherfield Sr.
22 S Harrison Smith
22 S Harrison Smith
99 DL Jerry Tillery
99 DL Jerry Tillery
15 OLB Dallas Turner
15 OLB Dallas Turner
43 OLB Andrew Van Ginkel
43 OLB Andrew Van Ginkel
20 S Jay Ward
20 S Jay Ward
52 OLB Jihad Ward
52 OLB Jihad Ward
17 P Ryan Wright
17 P Ryan Wright
Muse returned to practice Wednesday. He had been on Injured Reserve since Sept. 18 after sustaining a "small fracture" in his hand in Week 2 against San Francisco.
The 2022 seventh-round pick has appeared in 14 games, playing 156 snaps on special teams and five on offense. His lone career target so far resulted in a 22-yard reception at Detroit in the 2023 regular-season finale.
Minnesota is without tight end Josh Oliver this week because of an ankle injury suffered last week at Tennessee, so Muse will join T.J. Hockenson and Johnny Mundt.
Evans, a 2022 fourth-round pick, has played in 32 career games with 17 starts. After starting 15 games and playing 855 defensive snaps in 2023, Evans has played three defensive snaps and 83 on special teams in seven games this season.
View photos of Vikings players in their travel day outfits as they head to Chicago for the Week 12 matchup against the Bears.
McQuaide is being elevated for the third consecutive week. He signed to the practice squad on Nov. 7, a day after Minnesota placed long snapper Andrew DePaola on Injured Reserve.
McQuaide, who will turn 37 in December, has played 202 games (192 regular season, 10 postseason). McQuaide's postseason action includes playing 12 snaps for the Rams in Super Bowl LIII and seven for the Lions in last season's NFC Championship Game.
The two-time Pro Bowler (2016 and 2017 seasons) played for the Rams from 2011-20, Cowboys (2021-22) and Lions (2023).
He teamed with Vikings Special Teams Coordinator Matt Daniels at the Rams from 2012-14 and reunited with him while Daniels was the team's assistant special teams coach (2018-19) and again in Dallas (2021), where Daniels held the same role before his hire by Minnesota.
