Vikings Defender Returns to 53-Man Roster
Injuries have piled up in recent weeks. Certainly, the most impactful one was the season-ending knee injury of star left tackle Christian Darrisaw. The Vikings also had to replace two-thirds of their kicking operation, as kicker Will Reichard and long snapper Andrew DePaola have landed on IR because of injuries suffered against the Indianapolis Colts.
Vikings Defender Returns to 53-Man Roster
Prior to that contest, the franchise had placed defensive tackle Taki Taimani on IR with an ankle injury. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores elevated practice squad lineman Jalen Redmond to compensate for his absence. He played seven defensive and five special team snaps.
On Wednesday, the Vikings re-signed Redmond to the 53-man roster. He had recently been released but was added to the practice squad a couple of days later.
It has been quite the ride for the young defender in his football career, as he was a highly-touted recruit in high school, even earning an offer from the University of Memphis before playing his first varsity football game. He joined Oklahoma and was set to contribute to the defense, but he was ruled out for the 2018 season because of blood clots. He ultimately returned halfway through the year, limiting him to only three games.
After a solid 2019 season, Redmond opted out of the 2020 campaign because of the blood clot issues and COVID-19. He fully returned for the 2021 and 2022 seasons and was quite productive. In four seasons and 36 contests, Redmond logged 14 sacks, 31.5 tackles for loss, and 71 total tackles.
Despite a decent scouting combine, Redmond went undrafted but signed with the Panthers right after the draft.
Carolina waived him during training camp, and it put his NFL career on pause. He then signed with the Arlington Renegades of the XFL (later the UFL), where he tabulated 4.5 sacks in only four games. The Vikings snatched him up in June, and he made the team after a strong preseason.
In his five appearances on gameday, Redmond registered 49 defensive snaps, collecting a sack and three tackles.
The defensive line room now includes five players:
- Harrison Phillips
- Jerry Tillery
- Jonathan Bullard
- Levi Drake Rodriguez
- Jalen Redmond
In addition to those guys, Jihad Ward, who is listed as an outside linebacker, is primarily lining up inside as a pass-rush specialist.
Throughout the first half of the season, the defensive line has been a pleasant surprise. The Vikings have one of the elite run defenses in the NFL, ranking first in total rushing yards and touchdowns and third in yards per rush attempt. The advanced metrics like EPA/run (first) and run DVOA (first) also enjoy Minnesota’s front.
Fans speculated about the addition of a big-name defensive tackle at the trade deadline but the rumored difference-makers Dexter Lawrence and Jeffery Simmons were not available, so the Vikings stayed put.
On Sunday, Flores’ defensive line will face Jacksonville’s offensive line, a group with injury concerns that also traded Cam Robinson to the Twin Cities. Redmond (25) will surely be part of the rotation.
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