Vikings Cut 4th Player by Releasing DT Calvin Avery
The Minnesota Vikings began making their cuts on Sunday evening by releasing LB Tanner Vallejo as well as LB Wilson Huber and OT Jarrid Williams.
On Monday morning, they continued making cuts by releasing DT Calvin Avery, a member of their 2023 UDFA class.
The move was reported by Alec Lewis of The Athletic, who tweeted, “The #Vikings have cut DT Calvin Avery, per a source. Avery is an undrafted rookie from Illinois whom Brian Flores praised early in camp.”
Avery spent five seasons with the Illinois Fighting Illini, and he immediately saw playing time during his freshman season of 2018. He played in all 12 games for Illinois that year. He recorded 18 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss.
Avery’s final collegiate season was by far his most successful, though. He played all 13 games for the Fighting Illini, making 12 starts. In all, he put together 24 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble. He helped Illinois to a record of 8-5, including going 5-4 in the Big Ten, but the program lost the ReliaQuest Bowl to Mississippi State.
Over the course of his collegiate career, the defensive tackle amassed 75 tackles including 7 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Avery played in all three preseason games for the Vikings this summer, appearing in 51 defensive snaps. He recorded a total of 4 tackles. During Saturday’s preseason finale against the Arizona Cardinals, the defensive tackle also got a QB pressure.
The release was an expected one, even with the loss of James Lynch for the season. While he is a behemoth of a man on the defensive line, a lack of athleticism limits his impact to a true nose tackle spot. With Harrison Phillips and Khyiris Tonga around, the Vikings seem to be set at that spot unles another injury happens.
Regardless, Avery should be a candidate to make Minnesota’s practice squad if he clears waivers. The massive defensive lineman stands at 6’2 and nearly 350 pounds. Throughout his time at Illinois, he was a benefit to the run defense as well, with Pro Football Focus giving him a grade of 67.1 over 204 snaps.
His ability to rush the passer shouldn’t be overlooked, either. He didn’t necessarily put up massive statistics, but PFF credited him with 15 pressures last year at Illinois, and they gave him a pass-rushing grade of 72.0.
Minnesota’s roster now stands at 86 players after the Vikings traded another former Illinois alumnus, Vederian Lowe, to the New England Patriots. On the defensive line, the team still employs Phillips, Tonga, Dean Lowry, Jonathan Bullard, Ross Blacklock, Esezi Otomewo, Jaquelin Roy, Sheldon Day, T.J. Smith, and Junior Aho. Expect more cuts at this position to come.
The official cutdown deadline is Tuesday, August 29th at 3 PM Central.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. 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.