Former Gophers’ WR Isaac Fruechte Likely to Make Minnesota Vikings’ Practice Squad

Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

In a nod to familiarity, due to his being a former Golden Gopher football player, the Minnesota Vikings signed wide receiver Isaac Fruechte as an undrafted free agent during the spring.

Fruechte showed enough promise during offseason work and the preseason to survive the team’s roster cut-down from 90 to 75 players during the early part of the past week, however improbably. But he was not so lucky when the Vikings’ trimmed their roster a second time after the preseason finale, and the team’s depth at wide receiver played a partial role in Fruechte being waived ahead of Saturday’s deadline for teams to be down to 53 players.

Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported that the Vikings have invited Fruechte to join their practice squad, and the Caledonia High School (MN) product plans to accept the invitation. Once he clears waivers, which is expected to happen, the Vikings can put Fruechte on their 10-man practice squad.

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Fruechte only had 50 receptions for 702 yards and three touchdowns over three seasons with the Gophers. But a 40-yard dash time that clocked in around 4.4 seconds stood out at the school’s Pro Day in March, and quite possibly put him on the radar of NFL teams as an undrafted free agent to target.

Fruechte probably won’t have a lengthy NFL career, but for now he can at least pursue an opportunity in the league. It’s a major long shot, but if he makes a strong impression during in-season practices I think Fruechte could find his way to the Vikings’ active roster at some point.