Ex-Vikings Speedster Joins Week 5 Opponent
The Minnesota Vikings are coming off a triumphal victory over the New York Giants, who seemingly don’t have much to look forward to this season. Minnesota’s group next has three massive tests on the schedule, kicked off by the San Francisco 49ers, who looked like an elite team in Week 1. Then, the Houston Texans will come to the Twin Cities, followed by the first divisional game versus the Packers.
Ex-Vikings Speedster Joins Week 5 Opponent
In Week 5, the Vikings will travel to London to play their fourth regular season contest overseas. At this point, the organization is unbeaten there.
Part of that team, obviously, will be longtime rival Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, helped by dynamic weapons Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson.
Also part of the Jets, since earlier in the week, is former Viking Kene Nwangwu.
The Jets confirmed the reports on Monday.
Nwangwu had spent his entire career in the Twin Cities. He was a 2021 fourth-round pick made by then-general manager Rick Spielman in what would be his final draft in charge of the organization.
Coming out of Iowa State, the speedy running back was a superstar in the return game, taking a couple of kick returns to the house in his debut season and another one on Thanksgiving in 2022, when the Vikings needed a spark against the New England Patriots.
On offense, meanwhile, he has never found his place in the NFL, rushing only 27 times for 88 yards in his career. He also caught six passes for 30 yards in his Vikings stint.
Entering training camp, hopes were quite high for Nwangwu to secure a key role on special teams as the NFL changed the return rules, hoping for more opportunities for the dynamic specialist instead of continuing the fair-catch-festival from the previous season.
Penciled in as the RB3, the Vikings shockingly parted ways with the 26-year-old, elevating fellow running back Ty Chandler and punt returner Brandon Powell to kick return duties. In the first game of the season, all three of Graham Gano’s kickoffs led to touchbacks.
Returning kicks for the Jets is sophomore Xavier Gipson, who is also their punt returner. In addition to his special teams work, the wideout caught 21 passes last year.
It remains to be seen whether Nwangwu is actually envisioned to take the field as the new kick returner at some point or if he’s just injury insurance for either Gipson or the depth running backs.
Before he joined the Jets, Nwangwu was claimed off waivers by the Saints, reuniting with former offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. But the Saints pulled the plug as he surprisingly failed his physical.
Nwangwu turns 27 after his fourth NFL season.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt