Vikings make Gilmore signing official, add WR, end punting competition

The Minnesota Vikings made a few notable moves on Monday morning to start the final week of the preseason schedule.

First, the team made the signing of cornerback Stephon Gilmore official. That comes a day after the one-year pact was first reported .

Even though he’ll turn 34 next month, the two-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler should provide a huge boost to Minnesota’s defense, not only providing another quality cornerback at an area that needed it but also man coverage ability at defensive coordinator Brian Flores craves.

The Vikings also signed wide receiver Justin Hall, who worked out for Minnesota last week .

The 25-year-old is a 5-foot-9 pass-catcher who set records in college at Ball State with 318 catches for 3,385 yards and 18 touchdowns over his five seasons. He also carried the ball 122 times for 865 yards and another 10 touchdowns.

After going undrafted, Hall played for Houston in the USFL and UFL the past two seasons, totaling 103 catches for 1,117 yards and seven touchdowns.

H could be an offensive weapon the Vikings would like to develop on the practice squad.

However, maybe more notably for the present, the Vikings waived Seth Vernon and Ty James to make room for Gilmore and Hall.

Vernon’s departure ends the punting competition and signals that the Vikings will stick with Ryan Wright for a third year. Not only did Wright get more opportunities during the preseason that made him seem like the frontrunner but his performance was also better than Vernon’s, although some inconsistency remains.

James, an undrafted rookie, had just one catch in the preseason thus far.