So much for P.J. Hall competing to be the Vikings’ starting nose tackle.
The Vikings announced Tuesday that Hall failed his physical, and Monday’s trade with the Las Vegas Raiders was rescinded. The Raiders, who were to receive a conditional 2021 seventh-round draft pick from Minnesota, then waived Hall.
On Tuesday, the Vikings also placed defensive tackle Armon Watts on the reserve/COVID-19 list and activated wide receiver Justin Jefferson and safety Brian Cole II off that list. Jefferson, placed on the list July 27 along with Cole, was taken with the No. 22 pick in the first round of April’s draft and is likely to replace traded Stefon Diggs as a starter.
When the Vikings made the deal for Hall, the thinking was he would compete to replace Linval Joseph as the starting nose tackle. Joseph was released in March in a salary-related move and is now with the Los Angeles Chargers. The Vikings had signed free agent Michael Pierce to replace Joseph but, due to the coronavirus pandemic, he has opted out this season because of his respiratory issues.
Watts, a second-year player, is considered a candidate to replace Joseph. He becomes a fourth Vikings player on the COVID-19 list, joining tackle Oli Udoh, linebacker Cameron Smith and tackle Tyler Higby. The Vikings’ active roster remains at 80.