JUNE 1, 2023 • STARTRIBUNE.COM
BEN ELLEFSON
Vikings tight end, Hawley native Ben Ellefson retires from the NFL Ellefson, who turns 27 in September, was the team's No. 3 tight end last fall, but made two stops on injured reserve because of a lingering...
Vikings TE Ben Ellefson retires at age 26 Minnesota Vikings tight end Ben Ellefson, citing injuries, retired from football on Thursday after three NFL seasons
JUNE 1, 2023 • DEADSPIN.COM
Vikings Tight End Ben Ellefson Announces Retirement Minnesota Vikings Latest News
JUNE 1, 2023 • VIKINGS.COM
Returns to Minnesota Ellefson re-signed with the Vikings on Wednesday, Craig Peters of the team's official site reports.
Impact Ellefson will stay in Minnesota after it was reported earlier Wednesday by Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press that the team would not extend an RFA tender to him. He should provide depth to the team's tight end corps. The terms of his new contract have yet to be disclosed.
MARCH 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Expected to become free agent Ellefson will not receive an RFA tender from the Vikings, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Impact Ellefson played in only four games last season, missing most of the 2022 campaign with a groin injury. Tomasson notes that the Vikings may have an interest in re-signing him to a lesser contract than the $2.6 million right of first refusal tender amount.
MARCH 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Ben Ellefson & Kenny Willekes Returning to Vikings Minnesota Vikings Latest News
MARCH 15, 2023 • VIKINGS.COM
Back to IR Minnesota placed Ellefson (groin) on injured reserve Wednesday.
Impact Ellefson was activated off IR last Wednesday, but he remained sidelined during Week 13 and will now head back to IR due to what appears to be a significant groin injury. The reserve tight end hasn't suited up since Week 4 and won't be able to play again until Week 18 at the earliest, though it's certainly possible he remains out for the remainder of the campaign.
DECEMBER 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Unavailable for Week 13 Ellefson (groin) has been ruled out for Week 13 versus the Jets.
Impact Ellefson was activated off IR on Wednesday, but he will need at least one more week off before making his return to the field following a groin issue. The tight end will slot in behind T.J. Hockenson and Johnny Mundt on the Vikings' depth chart once healthy.
DECEMBER 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Activated from IR Ellefson (groin) was activated off of the injured reserve Wednesday.
Impact Ellefson is expected to make his return to action after being out since Week 4. In the four games he played, the 26-year old tight end caught all three of his targets for 26 yards while serving mainly as a blocking specialist. Ellefson will look to help open holes for Dalvin Cook and the run game in his return versus a stout Jets run defense.
NOVEMBER 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Designated to return from IR Ellefson (groin) was designated to return from injured reserve Wednesday.
Impact Ellefson returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since being placed on IR in early October with a groin injury. The team will now have a 21-day window to either activate him from IR or leave him unavailable for the remainder of the season. Ellefson has made three catches for 26 yards while appearing in four games this year, and he will operate as an additional depth option behind T.J. Hockenson once healthy.
NOVEMBER 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Vikings acquire tight end TJ Hockenson in trade with Lions
The Minnesota Vikings have acquired tight end TNOVEMBER 1, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Moves to injured reserve The Vikings placed Ellefson (groin) on injured reserve Saturday, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
Impact Ellefson landed on the injury report Thursday due to the groin issue, didn't practice Friday and was already ruled out for Week 5, but he'll now be forced to miss at least four games after landing on IR. In his absence, Johnny Mundt will serve as the top backup behind Irv Smith, but Nick Muse, who was also elevated off the practice squad for Sunday's matchup against the Bears, may also carve out a rotational role moving forward.
OCTOBER 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Won't play Sunday Ellefson (groin) has been ruled out for Sunday's contest against the Bears.
Impact Ellefson landed on the injury report Thursday as a limited participant due to a groin injury and didn't practice Friday. His absence will leave Johnny Mundt as the only tight end on the roster behind Irv Smith, though the Vikings may elect to elevate Nick Muse from the practice squad for added depth.
OCTOBER 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Career-high two receptions Ellefson had two receptions for 24 yards on two targets in Sunday's win over Detroit.
Impact Ellefson is primary a blocking tight end, as he has just four reception in three seasons. However, he does have three this season and Sunday's output was a career high. He ran four routes on 13 snaps on offense.
SEPTEMBER 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Vikings' Cousins using summer tennis for in-season agility
Kirk Cousins was looking for more variety and more fun in his offseason training a few years ago when he developed a deep appreciation for a different sportAUGUST 3, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Activated from IR Ellefson was activated from injured reserve Saturday, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official website reports.
Impact The tight end was placed on IR in late October with both a foot and knee injuries, finally returning in Week 18 after missing 11 games. In four games this season with the VIkings, Ellefson has operated mostly as a non-factor on offense, failing to reel in his only target.
JANUARY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Designated to return Ellefson (foot/knee) was designated to return from injured reserve Wednesday.
Impact Ellefson spent just over two months on injured reserve due to foot and knee injuries, but he returned to practice Wednesday. It's not yet clear whether he'll be able to play in either of the final two games of the regular season.
DECEMBER 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Moves to injured reserve Ellefson (foot/knee) was placed on injured reserve Thursday, Eric Smith of the Vikings' official site reports.
Impact Ellefson was a limited participant at Wednesady's practice due to the foot and knee issue, so it's somewhat of a surprise to see him shift to injured reserve a day later. Tyler Conklin and Chris Herndon are now the only available tight ends on Minnesota's active roster.
OCTOBER 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Vikings Place TE Ben Ellefson on Injured Reserve Minnesota Vikings Latest News
OCTOBER 28, 2021 • VIKINGS.COM
Dealing with pair of injuries The Vikings listed Elleferson as a limited participant at Wednesday's practice with knee and foot injuries, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official site reports.
Impact Coming off a Week 7 bye, Ellefson apparently isn't fully healthy. So long as he's able to upgrade to full activity by Friday, though, Ellefson should be ready to go for Sunday's game against the Cowboys. He's appeared in four games for the Vikings, drawing only one target across 71 offensive snaps.
OCTOBER 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Leaves practice early Ellefson left practice early Wednesday with an apparent knee injury, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Impact Ellefson missed Week 6 against the Panthers with a bad knee. After a bye week, Ellefson returned to practice, but seems to have aggravated the injury. He'll try to return to practice Thursday and be ready for Week 8 against Dallas.
OCTOBER 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Sidelined for Week 6 Ellefson (knee) was ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Panthers, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official website reports.
Impact Ellefson wasn't able to practice at all ahead of Week 6, so his unavailability shouldn't be a surprise. The 6-foot-3 tight end will have the bye week to get healthy before Minnesota returns to action against the Cowboys on Oct. 31.
OCTOBER 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Quick recovery from neck injury Ellefson (neck) isn't listed on the injury report heading into Sunday's game against the Browns.
Impact Ellefson missed Thursday's practice due to a neck injury but recovered quickly enough to avoid being on Friday's injury report altogether. The reserve tight end has been used exclusively in a blocking role thus far, as he's yet to have a ball thrown his way this season.
OCTOBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Unable to practice Ellefson (neck) didn't participate in Thursday's practice.
Impact Ellefson wasn't on the injury report Wednesday, so it's concerning that this issue popped up midweek. Meanwhile, Tyler Conklin (elbow/glute) was a limited participant, leaving Chris Herndon as the only healthy tight end for the Vikings. Ellefson and Conklin will look to elevate their participation Friday ahead of Sunday's game versus the Browns.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Claimed by Minnesota Ellefson was claimed off waivers by the Vikings on Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Impact Ellefson was waived by the Jaguars on Tuesday, but he'll have a spot on the Vikings' season-opening roster. The 2020 UDFA appeared in seven games for Jacksonville as a rookie and caught one pass for 10 yards.
SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
