Ellefson announced his retirement from the NFL on Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
After three seasons in the league, Ellefson decided to hang up his cleats Thursday. The tight end will finish his career with four total receptions for 36 yards over 16 contests while operating mostly as a special-teams option as a member of the Jaguars and Vikings.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Ben Ellefson: Returns to Minnesota
Rotowire
Ellefson re-signed with the Vikings on Wednesday, Craig Peters of the team's official site reports.
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.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Ben Ellefson: Expected to become free agent
Rotowire
Ellefson will not receive an RFA tender from the Vikings, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
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.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Ben Ellefson: Back to IR
Rotowire
Minnesota placed Ellefson (groin) on injured reserve Wednesday.
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.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Ben Ellefson: Unavailable for Week 13
Rotowire
Ellefson (groin) has been ruled out for Week 13 versus the Jets.
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.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Ben Ellefson: Activated from IR
Rotowire
Ellefson (groin) was activated off of the injured reserve Wednesday.
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.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Ben Ellefson: Moves to injured reserve
Rotowire
The Vikings placed Ellefson (groin) on injured reserve Saturday, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
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.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Ben Ellefson: Won't play Sunday
Rotowire
Ellefson (groin) has been ruled out for Sunday's contest against the Bears.
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.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Ben Ellefson: Career-high two receptions
Rotowire
Ellefson had two receptions for 24 yards on two targets in Sunday's win over Detroit.
Ellefson is primary a blocking tight end, as he has just four receptions in three seasons. However, three of those have come this season and Sunday's output was a career high. He ran four routes on 13 snaps on offense.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Ben Ellefson: Rare catch in season opener
Rotowire
Ellefson had one reception for two yards on one target in Sunday's win over Green Bay.
Ellefson is primary a blocking tight end, as it was just his second reception in three seasons. He ran a route just once on 17 snaps.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Ben Ellefson: Activated from IR
Rotowire
Ellefson was activated from injured reserve Saturday, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official website reports.
The tight end was placed on IR in late October with both a foot and knee injuries, and he'll finally return 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.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Ben Ellefson: Moves to injured reserve
Rotowire
Ellefson (foot/knee) was placed on injured reserve Thursday, Eric Smith of the Vikings' official site reports.
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.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Ben Ellefson: Leaves practice early
Rotowire
Ellefson left practice early Wednesday with an apparent knee injury, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Ellefson previously sat out the Vikings' Week 6 game against the Panthers with a knee injury, so it's possible he aggravated the issue in the team's first practice following a Week 7 bye. If he's able to shake off the injury in time for Sunday's game against the Cowboys, Ellefson will likely be limited to a blocking role for Minnesota.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Ben Ellefson: Sidelined for Week 6
Rotowire
Ellefson (knee) was ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Panthers, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official website reports.
Ellefson wasn't able to practice at all ahead of Week 6, so his lack of availability 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.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Ben Ellefson: Quick recovery from neck injury
Rotowire
Ellefson (neck) isn't listed on the injury report heading into Sunday's game against the Browns.
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.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Ben Ellefson: Unable to practice
Rotowire
Ellefson (neck) didn't participate in Thursday's practice.
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.
... See More... See Less
Jaguars' Ben Ellefson: Heads to IR
Rotowire
Ellefson (knee) was placed on injured reserve Saturday.
Ellefson had already been declared out for Week 13, and he'll be required to miss at least two more games before returning to the lineup. The Jaguars appear ready to carry four tight ends moving forward: Tyler Eifert, James O'Shaughnessy, Eric Saubert and Tyler Davis.
... See More... See Less
Jaguars' Ben Ellefson: Out with knee injury
Rotowire
Ellefson (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Vikings, John Shipley of SI.com reports.
Ellefson has averaged about 20 offensive snaps over the past four games but won't be available for Week 13. Eric Saubert should operate as the team's No. 3 tight end behind Tyler Eifert and James O'Shaughnessy.
... See More... See Less
Jaguars' Ben Ellefson: Catches first pass
Rotowire
Ellefson caught one of three targets for 10 yards during Sunday's 27-3 loss to Pittsburgh.
The 24-year-old tied a season high with 26 offensive snaps and also secured his first NFL reception during the blowout defeat. Ellefson could play a similar role as long as James O'Shaughnessy (knee) remains sidelined, but it's unlikely he makes his way to fantasy relevance.
... See More... See Less
Jaguars' Ben Ellefson: Joins active roster
Rotowire
The Jaguars promoted Ellefson to the active roster from the practice squad Thursday.
Jacksonville also activated Ellefson from practice squad COVID-19 list Thursday, prior to moving him to the 53-man roster. The rookie out of North Dakota State previously appeared in game-action Week 1 versus the Colts, but he's still vying for his first career target.
