Vikings Reunite with 4-Time Pro Bowl Linebacker
Josh Frey
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The Minnesota Vikings more than likely will be without one of their key defenders in Week 11 after Jordan Hicks suffered a shin injury during their Week 10 win over the New Orleans Saints.
The linebacker actually had to go to a local hospital to get a procedure done, and Kevin O’Connell stated that he will likely miss this weekend’s game against the Broncos.
As a result, the Vikings reunited with a longtime favorite on the defensive side of the ball by signing LB Anthony Barr to the roster ahead of Week 11.
Vikings Reunite with 4-Time Pro Bowl Linebacker
Adam Schefter of ESPN reported the signing, tweeting, “With LB Jordan Hicks hurt, the Vikings are planning to re-sign four-time Pro-Bowl LB Anthony Barr, per league sources. Barr spent eight seasons in Minnesota after becoming the Vikings first-round pick in 2014.”
As Schefter stated, Barr was a staple in Minnesota’s defense for nearly a decade when Minnesota had one of the most fearsome defensive units in the league. The linebacker was selected by the Vikings in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, and he immediately started 12 games for the team. During that rookie season, he put together 70 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 3 passes defended, and 2 forced fumbles.
In the following years, the linebacker would emerge as one of the best talents in the entire league. He was named to the Pro Bowl in every season from 2015-18. His career was highlighted by a 2017 season in which he recorded 75 tackles and nine TFLs during the regular season. The Vikings were the best in the league in both points allowed and yards allowed, making their way to the NFC Championship Game.
In the end, Barr finished his tenure with the Vikings struggling with injuries. He missed all but two games in 2020 because of a torn pectoral muscle, and he played just 11 games in 2021. He recorded 72 tackles and just three TFLs during his last year as the Vikings finished the season 8-9 but 6-5 with him in the lineup. In all, the former 9th overall pick recorded 39 TFLs and forced eight fumbles while intercepting five passes over his eight years with the Vikings.
Barr then signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys prior to the 2022 season. In Dallas, he recorded 58 tackles, a pair of tackles for loss, a sack, and a pass defended over the course of 14 games. 10 of those games were starts for Barr on a Cowboys defense that gave up the sixth-fewest points during the season.
Now, Barr heads back home to Minnesota where, at least for a week, he is hoping to replace at least some of the production from Hicks. Brian Flores has done a great job of rejuvenating Hicks’ career this season, and perhaps he can do the same with a player of a similar blitzing ability.
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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.