The Vikings included Bartholomew among four tight ends on the roster, joining T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver and Ben Yurosek. The team noted that its initial roster remains subject to change as Minnesota prepares for the regular season.
Bartholomew emerged as one of Minnesota’s summer standouts after spending the entire 2025 season on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list. The injury occurred during the Vikings’ 2025 spring program and kept him from appearing during his rookie season.
The former Blue Mountain Eagle made the most of his return to the field during training camp and the preseason. He finished the three-game preseason with six receptions on six targets for 41 yards, averaging 6.8 yards per catch.
Five of those receptions came during Minnesota’s preseason finale against the Denver Broncos. Bartholomew caught all five of his targets for 26 yards in the game, including a 12-yard reception.
Bartholomew was selected by Minnesota with the 202nd overall pick in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft following four seasons at the University of Pittsburgh.
During his collegiate career, he started 41 of the 50 games he played and recorded 105 receptions for 1,257 yards and 11 touchdowns. He posted career highs with 13 starts and 38 receptions during his final season in 2024 while matching his single-season best with four touchdown catches.
As a true freshman in 2021, Bartholomew appeared in 14 games and made eight starts, finishing with 28 receptions for 326 yards and four touchdowns. He later received All-Atlantic Coast Conference honorable mention recognition three times.
Before arriving at Pitt, Bartholomew played several positions at Blue Mountain, including tight end, defensive end, punter and quarterback. Wearing No. 9 for the Eagles, he was the team’s leading receiver as a junior and moved to quarterback for the final five games of his senior season.
Bartholomew graduated early from Blue Mountain in 2021, enrolled at Pittsburgh that January and participated in the Panthers’ spring practices.
His inclusion on Minnesota’s initial roster marks the latest milestone in a football journey that began in Schuylkill County and now gives Bartholomew an opportunity to make his regular-season NFL debut.
Photo of Bartholomew / Courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings