Former Rams LB Is Headed to Minnesota
Josh Frey
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The Minnesota Vikings agreed to terms with former Los Angeles Rams WR Brandon Powell earlier Wednesday afternoon, but it appears that the wide receiver isn’t the only player from Kevin O’Connell’s old team to join the Vikings. Now, the Vikings announced on Wednesday evening that they are bringing in former Rams LB Troy Reeder.
Reeder got his NFL career started in 2019, joining the Rams after spending the majority of his collegiate career at the University of Delaware. Initially, Reeder committed to Penn State where he redshirted his freshman year before he recorded 66 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, and an interception over the course of 12 games in 2015.
Following that 2015 season, Reeder transferred to Delaware and spent the remainder of his collegiate career there from 2016-18. In his final season with the Blue Hens, he led the CAA with 131 tackles and 13.5 TFLs.
The linebacker went undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft, but immediately after the draft’s conclusion, Reeder signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent. He made the final roster and played his first NFL game in the season opener against the Carolina Panthers, recording a tackle on special teams.
During that rookie season, Reeder progressively grew into a larger role with the Rams defense, and he made his first career start in Week 5. Overall, he appeared in all 16 games, making eight starts, and he recorded 58 tackles and 2 forced fumbles.
Reeder has proven to be a strong tackler over the course of his first four NFL seasons, and in 2020 and 2021, he played large roles with the Rams defense. He played all 33 games in those two seasons, including 17 starts, and he recorded a combined 172 tackles, 11 TFLs, 5 sacks, 8 pass defenses, and 2 interceptions.
During that 2021 Super Bowl run with the Rams, Reeder appeared in all four playoff games and started every game except the Super Bowl. He did play in that Super Bowl, though, recording a pair of tackles.
However, 2022 saw Reeder’s role become relegated back to almost exclusively special teams. He played all 17 games for the LA Chargers, but he recorded just 11 tackles and played only 62 defensive snaps.
Now, Reeder heads to Minnesota to join a linebacker room that needed more depth following the release of longtime starter Eric Kendricks. He is now the fifth linebacker with the Vikings, joining Brian Asamoah, Troy Dye, Jordan Hicks, and William Kwenkeu.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.