MINNEAPOLIS, MN – October 27, 2025 – In a move that feels like a plot twist straight out of a Hollywood underdog story, the Minnesota Vikings have welcomed back a familiar face to their tight end room. Ben Sims, the once-promising undrafted free agent who first donned purple in 2023, is returning to the Twin Cities after a three-year detour with NFC North rival Green Bay. The Vikings claimed Sims off waivers from the Packers on Monday, injecting fresh depth into a tight end group battered by injuries.
It’s the kind of reunion that Vikings fans dream about—poaching talent from Lambeau Field while addressing immediate needs. With quarterback Carson Wentz sidelined on injured reserve and TE2 Josh Oliver nursing a foot injury from last week’s thriller, Sims arrives not just as a body, but as a player the coaching staff already knows inside and out.
A Packers Past, A Vikings Future
Sims’ NFL journey has been a rollercoaster of roster battles and special teams grit. Signed by Minnesota as an undrafted free agent out of Baylor in May 2023, he flashed potential during a solid preseason. But the harsh reality of final cuts saw him waived as the Vikings trimmed from 90 to 53 players. Enter the Packers, who scooped him up immediately after a pre-draft visit that clearly left an impression. Green Bay had eyed Sims as a versatile blocker with upside, and over three seasons, he became a reliable depth piece in Matt LaFleur’s offense.
In 37 games with the Packers (starting just six, mostly in 2024), Sims logged 414 offensive snaps and 187 on special teams. His receiving stats are modest—eight catches for 63 yards, one touchdown, and four first downs on 11 targets, mostly from Jordan Love—but his value lay in the trenches. As a run blocker, he thrived in outside zone schemes, often lining up as a wingback to base block or lead the way. NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein pegged him pre-2022 draft as a “tight end with average size and talent as a run blocker but the tools to get a little better,” noting his limitations in separation as a receiver but praising his fit in favorable systems.
This season, Sims’ role in Green Bay shrank to kneel-down duties and kickoff return blocking, prompting his waiver to make room for receiver Christian Watson’s activation from the PUP list. Acme Packing Co.’s Justis Mosqueda summed it up succinctly: “Up until Saturday, Sims has been a Packer.” Now, at 25 years old (turning 26 next offseason), he’s back where it all began—U.S. Bank Stadium.
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Ben Sims chomps on a fake turkey leg in a postgame celebration after Green Bay’s Thanksgiving win over Miami in 2024. (Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images)
Injuries Open the Door: Wentz Out, Sims In
The timing couldn’t be more poetic—or painful—for Minnesota. Wentz, the veteran signal-caller brought in for stability, gutted out five starts despite a torn labrum and fractured socket in his left shoulder. Vikings.com’s Craig Peters captured the drama: “It will never be said that Carson Wentz didn’t give everything he had for the 2025 Minnesota Vikings. After starting five consecutive games and enduring considerable pain… Wentz has been placed on Injured Reserve.”
Wentz’s IR move freed a roster spot, and with Oliver’s status uncertain after exiting last week’s game early, the Vikings turned to a name they knew: Sims. It’s a low-risk, high-familiarity play from GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell, who value players that can contribute immediately without a learning curve.
Revamping the Tight End Room
Adding Sims bolsters a Vikings TE group that’s equal parts star power and question marks. Here’s the updated depth chart:
| Position | Player | Status/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TE1 | T.J. Hockenson | Franchise cornerstone; recovering from prior ACL but dominant when healthy. |
| TE2 | Josh Oliver | Blocked admirably but foot injury clouds his availability. |
| TE3 | Ben Yurosek | Rookie with receiving upside; limited snaps so far. |
| TE4 | Ben Sims | New addition; special teams ace with blocking chops. |
| PS | Bryson Nesbit | Developmental piece; could elevate with more reps. |
| PS | Nick Vannett | Veteran insurance; reliable but aging. |
| PUP | Gavin Bartholomew | High-upside rookie sidelined; return timeline TBD. |
Sims slots in as a TE4 with TE3 potential, especially if Oliver misses time. His special teams prowess (187 snaps over three years) ensures he won’t be a healthy scratch, and his inline blocking could stabilize the run game behind Aaron Jones. Don’t be surprised if O’Connell dials up a few seam routes for him—Sims has the hands to haul in contested catches, even if he’s not a burner.
What’s Next? Lions on Deck
As the Vikings gear up for a pivotal divisional showdown with the Detroit Lions this Sunday, Sims could make his purple re-debut. He’s game-ready, with no rust from recent snaps, and his familiarity with the NFC North grind gives him an edge. This isn’t just a waiver claim; it’s a homecoming that underscores Minnesota’s knack for turning castoffs into contributors.
For Sims, it’s a second chance to stick in the league on a team that believed in him first. For the Vikings, it’s another layer of resilience in a season defined by battles. As Peters put it, Sims “could actually be an immediate contributor.” In the brutal trenches of the NFL, sometimes the best reinforcements are the ones who never really left.
Stay tuned to Vikings.com for updates on Oliver’s injury and Sims’ integration. Skol!