Vikings Cut Ties with Former Steelers QB

Former Steelers quarterback Tanner Morgan is being released from the Minnesota Vikings practice squad, the team announced on Friday. Morgan played at the University of Minnesota and was the starter with the Golden Gophers for four seasons. He had been with the team earlier this season but returned this week following injuries to Jaren Hall and Kirk Cousins.

Morgan, an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota, played in all three preseason games, most extensively in the opener against Tampa Bay, when he saw 21 reps. He finished the preseason 6 of 12 for 32 yards, with no touchdowns, one interception, and was sacked twice. He also ran four times for negative three yards and fumbled twice, though neither was lost.

Morgan worked exclusively behind Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph in the Steelers’ quarterback pecking order that remained unchanged from the first day of OTAs, and at no point throughout camp did the rookie seem to be close to challenging the veterans ahead of him.

A 6-foot-2, 200-pound quarterback, Morgan played six seasons with the Golden Gophers. In 2022, Morgan started eight of the nine games he appeared in. He completed 107-of-160 passes for a career-high 67% of his passes. On his 107 completions, Morgan threw for 1,382 yards, nine touchdowns, and five interceptions.

His best season was back in 2019 when Morgan started all 13 games for Minnesota and broke school records with 3,253 passing yards and 30 touchdowns. In a game against Purdue, Morgan completed 21-of-22 passes for 396 yards and four touchdown passes. Morgan was named second-team All-Big Ten following the 2019 season. Former Steelers quarterback Josh Dobbs will start with the Vikings after a fantastic game against the Falcons.