Vikings elevate two cornerbacks off practice squad, waive WR Dan Chisena

Oct. 9—With Cameron Dantzler and Harrison Hand both on the COVID-19 reserve list, the Vikings on Saturday elevated two cornerbacks off the practice squad for Sunday's game against Detroit.

Tye Smith was a standard elevation and Parry Nickerson a COVID-19 replacement elevation. Unless Nickerson was signed to the 53-man roster, that was the only way he could be eligible for the game since he already had used his two allowed standard elevations for the season.

The Vikings also elevated off the practice squad guard Dakota Dozier, who is out of standard elevations, as a COVID-19 replacement. In order to create a second spot for a COVID-19 replacement, the Vikings waived wide receiver Dan Chisena, a special-teams ace who had made the team last season as an undrafted rookie free agent.

Chisena, who was activated off injured reserve Wednesday after missing the first four games due to an undisclosed injury, had taken one roster spot after Dantzler was placed on the COVID-19 list Monday and Hand went on it Tuesday. And the Vikings needed two open roster spots to elevate both Nickerson and Dozier to face the Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium.

After he was put on the COVID-19 list, Dantzler tweeted that he was fully vaccinated and would be back on the roster soon. But Vikings coach Mike Zimmer on Wednesday would not confirm that.

Smith, elevated off the practice squad for the first time this season, will provide depth at outside cornerback behind starters Patrick Peterson and Bashaud Breeland and top reserve Kris Boyd. Nickerson will back up nickelback Mackensie Alexander.