Exiled Viking Claimed off Waivers
The Minnesota Vikings parted ways with roughly a third of their players on Tuesday, ahead of the NFL’s 53-man roster deadline. Although not the most shocking news, the most significant goodbye was said to former first-rounder Lewis Cine, who went unclaimed through the waiver process and is now a free agent.
Exiled Viking Claimed off Waivers
His former teammate, Kene Nwangwu, meanwhile, has been claimed by the New Orleans Saints.
Unlike Cine’s exit, where the writing had been on the wall for quite some time, Nwangwu’s departure was a surprise.
In his three years with the club, he functioned as a depth running back, but his real value obviously came on special teams as a dynamic kick returner.
Nwangwu joined the organization as a fourth-round selection in 2021 ‒ Rick Spielman’s final draft in charge of the franchise. Since then, he appeared in 37 games, rushed 27 times for 88 yards, and caught six passes for 30 yards.
His 68 kick returns resulted in three touchdowns (two in 2021 and one in 2022).
Considering the low number of touches on offense, he can hardly be titled running back, but his resume as a kick returner is impressive. He was named second-team All-Pro in 2022 and should’ve collected some accolades in his rookie season when he scored twice in only 11 games.
In New Orleans, he will reunite with former Vikings offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who was hired to fill the same role earlier in the offseason. The Saints still employ star running back Alvin Kamara. He might not quite have the same juice from the past, but he is still effective. Backup Jamaal Williams returned from last year, and last year’s third-rounder Kendre Miller is on IR with a hamstring injury.
Jordan Mims, an undrafted rookie from 2023, is also currently on the roster. He played three offensive snaps last year and is a longshot to make an impact. The Saints might show him the door to make room for Nwangwu.
Nwangwu’s departure left the Vikings without an obvious kick returner. On the depth chart earlier in camp, backup running back Ty Chandler was listed as the second option behind Nwangwu, and punt returner Brandon Powell was listed as the third kick returner.
Chandler returned four kicks for 97 last year, while Powell returned 57 kicks in his stints with the Lions, Falcons, and Rams.
It should be noted, though, that the rules have changed in the NFL, so their experience in that area isn’t worth much. The new rules might have ultimately led the Vikings to make the move. A possible thought process might be that Nwangwu was better suited for the previous regulations.
The ex-Viking is 26 years old and hopes to return to his All-Pro heights.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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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