MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Rondale Moore’s bid to revive his NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings has come to a painful end. The fifth-year wide receiver and return specialist will miss the entire 2025 season after suffering a season-ending knee injury during the team’s first preseason game.
The Vikings announced Tuesday that medical tests confirmed the severity of the injury to Moore’s left knee but did not disclose specific details. It marks the second consecutive year Moore’s season has ended before it began. In 2024, while with the Atlanta Falcons, he dislocated his right knee during training camp and never appeared in a game.
The latest injury occurred Saturday against the Houston Texans, when Moore was tackled by linebacker Jamal Hill after a short, 2-yard punt return near the sideline. As he was carted off the field, Moore—clearly aware of the gravity of the situation—slammed his hand in frustration, the sound echoing through the stadium.
“It’s heartbreaking,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said. “I try to live by the principle of leaving people better than I found them, and in that moment, there was nothing I could do. That’s the worst feeling as a head coach. You just try to console them and make sure they know they’re not alone.”
Minnesota had hoped Moore could bring speed, versatility, and experience to the receiving corps behind Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jalen Nailor. But Moore’s injury—and Addison’s three-game suspension to start the season—will now test the team’s depth. Rookie third-round pick Tai Felton and practice squad holdovers Lucky Jackson and Jeshaun Jones are expected to see increased opportunities.
Moore, a 2021 second-round pick out of Purdue, spent his first three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, appearing in 39 games (plus one playoff appearance). He accumulated 1,201 receiving yards and three touchdowns, along with 249 rushing yards and one score. As a rookie, he also served as Arizona’s primary return man before injuries forced him out of that role.
After being traded to the Falcons in 2024 and missing the season, Moore signed a one-year deal with the Vikings this past spring, aiming for a fresh start.
On Tuesday, the Vikings placed Moore on injured reserve and made two additional roster moves: they waived linebacker Brian Asamoah and undrafted rookie center Zeke Correll, the latter with an injury designation. Asamoah, a third-round pick in 2022 out of Oklahoma, had become one of Minnesota’s most dependable special teams contributors.
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