Van Noy has impressed through three week's and has provided Minnesota with a reliable veteran presence off the edge.
The Minnesota Vikings are making Kyle Van Noy’s presence on the roster permanent.
After spending the first three weeks of the season on the practice squad and being elevated for each game, Van Noy is being signed to Minnesota’s 53-man roster following his impact in Sunday’s 23-16 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The move was becoming increasingly necessary. Van Noy had already reached the maximum number of practice squad elevations allowed, meaning the Vikings needed to add him to the active roster if they wanted to continue using the veteran linebacker.
After Sunday’s performance, there is little reason to question the decision.
Van Noy recorded 1.5 sacks against Tampa Bay, giving him his first sacks as a member of the Vikings and helping Minnesota’s defense produce six sacks in the victory. The Vikings have now recorded at least four sacks in each of their first three games, giving the unit 14 sacks through three weeks.
For Van Noy, the performance showed why Minnesota brought him back into the fold in the first place.
The 35-year-old veteran signed with the Vikings’ practice squad in September after spending the previous three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.
There was always an obvious connection between Van Noy and Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. The two previously worked together in New England and Miami, giving Van Noy familiarity with the type of defensive system Flores runs in Minnesota.
That familiarity has already translated onto the field.
His impact against Tampa Bay went beyond the sack numbers, too.
Van Noy finished the game with five tackles and was involved in multiple plays behind the line of scrimmage with three tackles for loss.
That is particularly valuable for a Vikings defense that has quickly established itself as one of the team's biggest strengths.
Minnesota is now 3-0, and the defense has played a major role in all three victories. The addition of Van Noy to the 53-man roster gives Flores another veteran piece to deploy while allowing the Vikings to maintain the rotational approach that has kept Van Noy effective despite his limited workload.
Rather than being a temporary addition to the defense, Van Noy now has a permanent spot on the roster and looks to continue contributing throughout the remainder of the 2026 season.
And after what he showed in Tampa Bay, the Vikings have another experienced edge presence they can rely on as the season moves forward.
