Jake Bargas Has Landed on a New Team
In a somewhat surprising move, at least for yours truly, the Minnesota Vikings waived FB Jake Bargas as part of their first wave of cuts on the journey towards 53. Being a superb athlete and blocker, it seemed that the Vikings would continue to keep him around and attempt to stash him on the practice squad for the 2022 season. Minnesota won’t be able to that though as Bargas now plays on a new team: the Chicago Bears.
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Bargas signed with the Bears on Sunday morning, and he replaces wide receiver David Moore, who was placed on injury reserve with a lower leg injury. The signing means there are now three fullbacks on Chicago’s roster as Bargas joins Michael Burton and Freddie Stevenson.
Bargas landed with the Minnesota Vikings in 2020 after he went undrafted out of North Carolina. Throughout his collegiate career, Bargas actually played tight end for the Tar Heels, and he caught 21 passes for 189 yards and a pair of touchdowns from 2016-19. He then switched over to the fullback spot after heading to the NFL, and that is where he’s been ever since.
The Vikings have invited him to their training camp in each of the past three years, and in 2020 and 2021 he was stashed on the practice squad. In each year, he appeared in one regular season game, but 2020 was the only season where he played offensive snaps. In 2021 he was limited to the special teams. He’s never recorded a carry or reception in his career.
As for his current competition for the fullback position with Chicago, Burton has been an NFL journeyman over his seven-year career. He spent the 2021 season with the Kansas City Chiefs where he recorded his first career rushing touchdown. Stevenson actually joined the Bears back in 2017 as a UDFA out of Florida State. He and Dalvin Cook were also collegiate teammates with the Seminoles for three seasons. However, he is yet to appear in an NFL game despite being around the league for six seasons. The job seems like it would be Burton’s to lose, but perhaps Jake Bargas can surprise at the end of the preseason.
