Tight end Gavin Bartholomew – a 2021 Blue Mountain High School graduate – is active during the first few days at Minnesota Vikings training camp.
Bartholomew, according to Vikings beat coverage from multiple sources, is competing for Minnesota’s third tight end position on its final 53-man roster.
Following a lost 2025 season where he spent the year on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list due to a lower back injury, Bartholomew is back on the field and making his presence felt.
During the July 29 practice, he hauled in a contested catch from quarterback J.J. McCarthy despite tight coverage from safety Jamal Adams. Additional reports from the same session highlighted his ability to “move well” and secure two impressive catches over the middle of the field.
The Battle for TE3
Bartholomew is currently engaged in a heated competition for the third tight end spot on the depth chart, sitting behind veterans T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver. While his recent performance has drawn positive notice from observers, he faces stiff competition for that final roster spot.
At a press conference this week, Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips said of Bartholomew, “Gavin’s a really good athlete. He catches the ball really well. In the short time we had him last year, he showed that he could come off the ball in the run game.
“He’s got some twitch, some explosiveness to him that you see when he’s catching some passes, so generally if a guy’s big enough and willing enough, that usually translates to the run game as well,” Phillips said. “He’s a football guy. He’s all about it, so I expect him to only improve as camp goes”
Current projections, including recent insights from Yahoo Sports, suggest that Ben Yurosek currently holds the edge in the race. Also in the mix for the role are undrafted rookies Bryson Nesbit and Marshall Lang.
Bartholomew was selected by the Vikings in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft out of the University of Pittsburgh.
Photo: Published with permission from Minnesota Vikings
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