Former Notre Dame All-American running back Audric Estimé has signed with the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad.

The Vikings announced the move Wednesday as part of a batch of practice-squad additions that also included running back Devin Neal, punter Johnny Hekker and two other players.

Estimé, 23, worked out for Minnesota a day earlier after the New Orleans Saints waived him from injured reserve with an injury settlement. He had been dealing with a thigh injury.

The signing gives Minnesota another power back as it manages running-back depth early in the 2026 season. Estimé is listed at 5-foot-11 and 227 pounds, a compact between-the-tackles runner whose college nickname was “Baby Bus.”

At Notre Dame, Estimé became one of the program’s most productive modern backs. After limited work as a freshman behind Kyren Williams, he rushed for 920 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2022.

In 2023, he exploded for 1,341 yards and a school-record 18 rushing touchdowns, earning second-team All-America honors from the Associated Press, The Athletic, CBS Sports, Sporting News and Pro Football Focus.

He closed the regular season with 238 yards and four scores against Stanford. In three seasons he totaled 2,321 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns, ranking among the Irish’s all-time leaders in both categories.

Denver selected him in the fifth round, 147th overall, in the 2024 NFL Draft. As a rookie he played 13 games with one start, rushing 76 times for 310 yards and two touchdowns.

Released by the Broncos the following summer, he spent time on the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad before joining New Orleans.

With the Saints in 2025 he appeared in seven games, carrying 46 times for 198 yards and a touchdown and catching 12 passes for 103 yards. Career NFL totals stand at 20 games, 122 rushes for 508 yards and three scores, plus 17 receptions for 130 yards.

A practice-squad deal does not guarantee snaps, but it keeps Estimé in a building that has already shuffled its backfield this month.

Minnesota recently placed Jordan Mason on injured reserve and has mixed veterans and younger options on the taxi squad.

Estimé’s combination of size, short-yardage toughness and Notre Dame pedigree gives the Vikings a familiar profile if they need a body in practice or an emergency elevation.

For Estimé, it is another chance to stick. Two seasons into his professional career, the former All-American is still looking for a stable role. Minnesota is the fourth NFL organization to give him one.