Minnesota Vikings Add A Linebacker

An injury in last week’s preseason game forced the Minnesota Vikings to add a linebacker to the roster. Linebacker William Kwenkeu was injured while playing on special teams against the Seattle Seahawks. As a result of the injury, he was released with an injury designation. Once/if Kwenkeu passes through waivers, he will go on the Vikings injured reserve list. 

The Vikings announced the signing of linebacker Tanner Vallejo to take Kwenkeu’s place with the linebackers and on special teams. Vallejo was drafted out of Boise State by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He spent the 2017 season with the Bills and was waived during the 2018 preseason. After being claimed off waivers, it was on to the Cleveland Browns for the 2018 season. It was training with the Arizona Cardinals, a stint with the Washington Redskins, and a return to the Cardinals in 2019. After initially signing to Arizona’s practiced squad, he was soon promoted to the active roster. In Week 14 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Vallejo made his first statistical impact in the league with a sack and forced fumble. His 2019 season ended on the Cardinals injured reserve. It seemed that he had found an NFL home in Arizona. After sticking with the team in 2020, he signed a two-year, $4.1 million deal deal during the 2021 offseason. He made two starts in 2021 and five starts in 2021. Now, he has the rest of  training camp and two preseason games to earn a linebacker/special teams roster spot with the Vikings. 

Tanner Vallejo’s addition boosts the number of Boise State players on the roster to four. 

Boise State Vikings

Alexander Mattison

Ezra Cleveland

Curtis Weaver

Tanner Vallejo

That ties TCU for the second largest college contingent on the Vikings roster. 

TCU Vikings

Austin Schlottmann

Jalen Reagor

Ross Blacklock

Colin Thompson

Tops is LSU.

LSU Vikings

Justin Jefferson

Danielle Hunter

Ed Ingram

Jaquelin Roy

Jay Ward

Welcome to Minnesota, Tanner Vallejo.