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Samuel, the 2021 second-round pick by the Chargers, has reportedly been medically cleared to play again after undergoing spinal fusion surgery in April. But the many teams interested in Samuel, including the Vikings, will want their medical professionals to evaluate his recovery before signing him. “I’ve always liked Asante and I know he’s taking a lot of visits,” coach Kevin O’Connell said Friday. “I think he wants to make sure everybody totally understands where he’s at health-wise and I know he wants to play football. ... Our personnel guys are doing the best they can to always evaluate anything that would be a good move.” The Vikings are among six teams, including the Packers, Panthers, 49ers, Bears and Steelers, to schedule a visit with Samuel, who reportedly has meetings in San Francisco, Chicago and Pittsburgh next week. The Vikings need cornerback help while Jeff Okudah, the No. 3 option who played 93 snaps over six games, recovers in the concussion protocol for the second time this season. Okudah was pulled from the Oct. 23 road loss to the Chargers after 11 snaps. He initially suffered a concussion in the season-opening victory in Chicago. “We handle this with a certain level of care,” O’Connell said of Okudah. “With this one, we want to be extra cautious. He is still in a place where he is not symptom-free.” For the second year in a row, the Vikings have turned to 31-year-old journeyman Fabian Moreau as the next cornerback up after one of the top three goes down due to injury. He had three tackles in 24 snaps against the Lions on Sunday. Running back Aaron Jones has said he expects to play through an AC joint sprain in his shoulder, but he is still listed questionable to play Sunday. Jones’ reps were limited again during Friday’s practice. Jones, 30, was impactful in his second game back from a hamstring injury that cost him four games earlier this season. He took 11 touches for 98 yards from scrimmage against the Lions before exiting because of the shoulder injury. Safety Theo Jackson progressed through the concussion protocol as he was upgraded to a full participant in practice, shedding the red, no-contact jersey he wore Thursday. He also is listed as questionable. With only center Ryan Kelly (concussion) unavailable for the starting offensive line, this marks the first time since Week 3 vs. the Bengals that four of the five blockers don’t carry injury designations. But the Vikings have had at least one starting offensive lineman either on injured reserve, listed out or listed questionable entering all nine games so far. Fullback C.J. Ham will suit up against the Ravens for just the third time this season. He has been cleared to return from a two-game absence due to a left hand injury suffered Oct. 19 against the Eagles. Ham, the Duluth native, also missed four games because of a knee injury. Ham had been available for 130 of 132 regular-season games before this year. His return will affect many areas, including giving quarterback J.J. McCarthy another personal protector on passing downs. “It’s his role he plays on special teams,” O’Connell said, “it’s his role he plays as a leader. It’s his role he plays on third down. ... One of our smartest, most-prepared football players I’ve ever been around.” With Oliver out, the Vikings could again be elevating tight end Nick Vannett from the practice squad. Vannett, the 32-year-old, 10th-year veteran, is coming off a season-high 27 snaps against the Lions, which started with a solid block on Detroit edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson during an 11-yard run by Jones. “A guy we went out and got for a reason,” O’Connell said of Vannett, who signed Aug. 4. “Veteran presence along the lines of what Josh Oliver brings.” Sign up for the free Access Vikings newsletter to get exclusive analysis in your inbox every Friday. Subscribe to the Access Vikings podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. Anthony Souffle/The Minnesota Star Tribune The Vikings return home full of energy after their upset of the Lions to face a Baltimore team ready to bully them in the trenches. Elizabeth Flores/The Minnesota Star Tribune The defensive lineman leads the Vikings in sacks with four in his second year with the team. “I definitely want a lot more,” he said.
