Minnesota native Marcus Sherels was released by the Vikings on Tuesday. 

Sherels, a Rochester native who starred for the Gophers at the University of Minnesota, played nine years (2010-18) with the Vikings before signing a one-year deal with the Saints last March. 

He was cut by the Saints on Sept. 1 only to re-sign with the Vikings a few weeks later after wide receiver/punt returner Chad Beebe was lost to an injury. 

But Sherels' role as Minnesota's primary punt returner was lost when Minnesota decided Mike Hughes, also a cornerback, was healthy enough from last year's ACL injury to resume returning punts. 

Sherels returned six punts this season and averaged just over five yards per return. Other than that, he was mainly used on kickoff and punt coverage while playing just one snap on defense, according to Football Reference.