Vikings close offseason workouts by signing TE Marshall Lang and DL Jahvaree Ritzie, trimming roster

The Minnesota Vikings used the final stage of their offseason workout program to add two new bodies while making roster trims. On Tuesday, the team announced it has signed tight end Marshall Lang and defensive lineman Jahvaree Ritzie, a pair of additions that continue Minnesota’s broader effort to round out competition at key spots before training camp begins.

Lang’s addition gives the Vikings another option in the tight end room, where depth and versatility tend to matter as offenses evolve during the preseason. Tight ends in Minnesota’s system must be ready for a mix of run support responsibilities and pass routes, and offseason reps are often where coaching staffs sort out who can handle multiple assignments without needing on-field “translation” once the regular season approaches.

Ritzie’s signing adds to Minnesota’s defensive line group, where the team typically looks for players who can contribute across the front, including snap-to-snap adjustments in alignment and leverage. Defensive linemen can also be early candidates to earn rotational roles, and the offseason workout window is one of the last chances for teams to evaluate fit before more formal roster battles begin.

Minnesota’s announcement also included two corresponding waivers, reflecting the balancing act every team performs when adding players to an offseason group. The team did not frame the moves in terms of injuries or discipline, instead treating them as routine roster housekeeping as it reached the end of its offseason program.

From a roster-building standpoint, the timing matters. In June, NFL teams are typically using a mix of veterans returning from spring workouts and newly signed players to create competition for camp and preseason. Even when the league calendar is still weeks away from the start of full-squad work, late-summer roles often start taking shape earlier than fans expect.

What to watch next is how both signees translate offseason practice into camp opportunities. For Lang, the storyline is whether he can stand out in work that demands physical blocking and reliable route timing. For Ritzie, the focus will likely be on whether he can hold up in the type of one-on-one or gap assignment looks that decide who earns rotational reps.

Minnesota’s next public roster decisions will also clarify what kind of depth it is targeting. If the Vikings continue to add and subtract players in the coming days, it would report a continued emphasis on evaluating fringe options for camp and the preseason, rather than committing early to a fixed depth chart.