The Minnesota Vikings kicked off their preseason action on Saturday against the Houston Texans. The focus was on how much new quarterback J.J. McCarthy would play. That wasn’t the story after the dust settled though.
Rondale Moore signed with the Vikings after spurning the division rival Chicago Bears. He wasn’t in line for significant wide receiver reps, but he looked like a key contributor on special teams and someone who would be relied upon during Jordan Addison’s upcoming suspension.
Unfortunately, it took a single punt return to end his season for a second-straight year, leaving the game with an apparent knee injury that immediately was reported as “significant”.
Rondale Moore confirmed done for Minnesota Vikings
Moore took the punt from left to right and was tackled on the sideline, in what some might view as a “hip drop tackle”. No matter, it resulted in the former Purdue superstar being carted off the field.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Minnesota Vikings confirmed Rondale Moore’s diagnosis as a season-ending knee injury, though Darren Wolfson (KSTP) reported on “Purple Daily” (SKOR North) earlier in the day that his injury is NOT an ACL issue.
Tests confirmed WR Rondale Moore suffered a season-ending knee injury in Saturday’s preseason game.
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 12, 2025
“We don’t have the exact update. I know on Instagram he posted, “Blessed.” I was told it’s not an ACL. Kevin O’Connell postgame on Saturday alluded to a serious knee injury. I’m told, for whatever it’s worth, the most common knee injury is a torn anterior cruciate ligament. I’m told it’s not an ACL, but we don’t have the exact diagnosis.”
After tearing his right ACL last season, the knee injury for Moore this time around appears to be in his left knee. It’s unfortunate news for a Minnesota Vikings team already thin at wide receiver. Justin Jefferson is still working his way back from a hamstring strain, and Jordan Addison is staring down his upcoming suspension.
Without Moore, head coach Kevin O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will need to figure out alternatives at both wide receiver and punt returner. They have just a few weeks left until kicking off Week 1 in Chicago against the Bears.
Brian Asamoah sent packing by MN Vikings
Minnesota used a third round pick on Brian Asamoah in the 2022 NFL Draft. He appeared primed for a more significant role on defense, early in his career, but he never realized that potential.
He entered training camp on the roster bubble, before surprisingly becoming an early camp cut on Tuesday. The Vikings announced the cuts of Asamoah and Zeke Correll, along with the Rondale Moore update.
The #Vikings have waived Brian Asamoah II, waived/injured Zeke Correll and placed WR Rondale Moore on IR. https://t.co/Vcdaiv4iqa pic.twitter.com/Edm6UQekyI
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 12, 2025
Asamoah payed 46 games across three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. He tallied just 30 tackles in that span, none of them being for losses or a sack. After 119 defensive snaps (11%) as a rookie in 2022, he combined for only 69 total defensive snaps the past two seasons.
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Minnesota did utilized Asamoah on special teams, even if he wasn’t a heavy part of their defensive plan. Without a path to improved playing time, however, the Vikings decided they were ready to move on, and likely wanted to give Brian additional time to find a new team.
Zeke Correll was signed as an undrafted free agent out of North Carolina State, following the 2025 NFL Draft. He played in 13 games last season as a senior for the Wolf Pack. Now, he will be looking to keep his professional football career alive.
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