Vikings Sign 1 Linebacker and Waive Another Linebacker
The Minnesota Vikings have made a plethora of moves in the short time since training started just over three weeks ago. At the cornerback position, the team has already added Duke Shelley, Jacobi Francis, Nahshon Wright, and Fabian Moreau, while safety Bobby McCain has some experience in the slot, too.
Former fourth-rounder Jabril Cox joined the club as well, but the front office has already shown the linebacker the door.
Vikings Sign 1 Linebacker and Waive Another Linebacker
Cox was officially signed on July 25. Less than three weeks later, the Vikings announced on Tuesday that he is off the team. He was waived with an injury designation, meaning he will now enter the waiver process. If he goes unclaimed on waivers, he will return to the Vikings and be stashed on season-ending IR.
Players usually reach settlements with their teams in that situation. He would then be bought out of his contract and can find a new team once he’s healthy. Cox played 20 snaps in the preseason opener, all on special teams, until suffering a groin injury.
The 2021 fourth-rounder played 26 games with the Cowboys and the Commanders, primarily as a special teams player with over 500 snaps of experience in that unit.
To replace him, the Vikings have hired another veteran linebacker with mostly special teams knowledge. Jordan Kunaszyk was signed. The 27-year-old linebacker played his college ball at Cal and went undrafted in 2019.
He has stints with the Panthers, in Washington, and with the Browns, playing in 46 career games, including two starts with the Browns in 2022. His stat sheet shows 45 tackles. He has logged 176 snaps on defense and 876 on special teams, showing a clear special teams focus.
Kunaszyk will practically be a replacement for Cox as a camp body to complete the six-man linebacker crew. He will play some reps in the preseason, especially on special teams, and likely end up on the waiver wire on cutdown day, August 27.
The Vikings employ six linebackers.
Ivan Pace and Blake Cashman will be the two starters. As he said in July, Pace will be the new green dot linebacker. He will succeed Jordan Hicks as the play-caller on the field, receiving the calls from Brian Flores via a speaker in the helmet. It’s his job to get his teammates in position and call audibles.
Former Golden Gopher Cashman joins him after a breakout campaign with the Houston Texans in 2023. He signed a three-year contract worth $22.5 million after tabulating 106 tackles, two sacks, and one interception in his fifth season in the NFL.
Behind the duo, third-year player Brian Asamoah and veteran Kamu Grugier-Hill should be expected to be the backup crew that heavily contributes on special teams. The fifth linebacker who hopes to usurp one of them and make the team or earn a spot on the practice squad is undrafted rookie Dallas Gant, a Toldeo alumnus.
Kunaszyk’s first opportunity to play will come on Saturday when the Vikings face the Browns for their second preseason contest. He hopes to convince the decision-makers to keep him around for his special teams prowess.
Editor’s Note: Information from Over The Cap, Pro Football Focus, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
A Former Vikings Target Is Available Again
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