According to the team's official website, the Minnesota Vikings have signed free agent running back Ryan Moats.

"I watched them last year get so close to achieving the ultimate goal, and I’m honored to be a part of the team," Moats said. "I look forward to being a member of the team and working hard to help us get to the Super Bowl."

Waived by the Houston Texans on June 10, Moats had been a restricted free agent this off-season. The Texans tendered Moats at the "Original Round" level, which would have paid Moats a $1.226 million dollar base salary this season.

Financial terms of his deal with the Vikings were not disclosed, but it's unlikely that his deal with Minnesota will compensate him at much more than the veteran minimum ($630,000).

A third-round pick (77th overall) out of Louisiana Tech by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2005, Moats (5-8, 210) spent his first three seasons with the Eagles, including a 2007 spent on injured reserve with an ankle injury.

Vikigns head coach Brad Childress was the Eagles' offensive coordinator when Moats was selected.

Waived by the Eagles at the end of the 2008 training camp, Moats spent several weeks on the Arizona Cardinals practice squad before joining the Texans practice squad. Added to the 53-man roster two weeks later, Moats appeared in nine games for Houston that season, rushing for 94 yards and a touchdown. Last season, Moats was active for 14 games, started his first game since his rookie season, and set career-highs with 390 yards and 4 touchdowns rushing, and 13 receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown as a receiver out of the backfield.