The Vikings announced the move Wednesday, along with the hiring of assistant defensive line coach Diron Reynolds. Hicks signed a three-year contract last March, but he was bothered by a foot injury at the beginning of the season and wound up being inactive for five games.

Hicks returned a team-high 29 kickoffs for an average of 23.8 yards, posting a season long of 38 yards on Dec. 28 against the New York Giants.

The return positions have been a weak point for the Vikings for several years, and the five-year veteran Hicks was expected to give them some stability.