Vikings Re-Up with Familiar Defender

Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.

They cut him on Friday, and now he’s back.

Vikings Re-Up with Familiar Defender

Jalen Redmond has rejoined the Minnesota Vikings roster, back on the practice squad just three days after the club waived him.

J. Redmond runs drills during OU Pro Day for University of Oklahoma football players at the Everest Training Center in Norman, Okla., Thursday, March 30, 2023. © NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK.

The Vikings’ social media team tweeted, “The Vikings have signed DL Jalen Redmond to the practice squad.”

This is the current practice squad with Redmond’s return:

Henry Byrd (OL)

Andre Carter II (OLB)

Dallas Gant (ILB)

N’Keal Harry (TE)

Lucky Jackson (WR)

Jeshaun Jones (WR)

Bobby McCain (S)

Jalen Redmond (DL)

Sammis Reyes (TE)

Bo Richter (OLB)

Tyrese Robinson (OL)

Zavier Scott (RB)

Robert Tonyan (TE)

Max Tooley (LB)

Thayer Thomas (WR)

Jonah Williams (DT)

Marcellus Williams (OT)

Nahshon Wright (CB)

Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports.

And these are the club’s interior defensive linemen without Redmond on the 53-man depth chart:

Harrison Phillips

Jerry Tillery

Jonathan Bullard

Levi Drake Rodriguez

Taki Taimani

Frequently, when a team waives a player like Redmond, it will re-add the man to the practice squad a day or two later, and Redmond was no different. He just had to wait a few days. Minnesota originally signed him in June, and to the surprise of onlookers, Redmond battled valiantly at training camp and in the preseason, making the 53-man roster and remaining for five games.

Caean Couto-USA TODAY Sports.

Redmond has played in two games for Minnesota this season, logging 23 defensive snaps, or 16%. He’s banked a tackle, sack, and tackle for loss in limited action. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah signed Redmond in June, an intriguing transaction because the defender thrived in the UFL. He played 4 games in 2024 with the UFL’s Arlington Renegades, tabulating 4.5 sacks, 5 tackles for loss and 18 total tackles. That statline was evidently enough to turn heads in the Vikings’ front office, and Redmond parlayed the trial into a roster spot and now practice squad assignment.

The Oklahoma alumnus turned 25 in March and tallied 14 sacks in 36 games in college.

Minnesota next hosts the hot Detroit Lions in six days at U.S. Bank, a squad that has beaten it thrice consecutively. The Vikings’ defense ranks first in the NFL per DVOA and EPA/Play at the moment.

Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores chatting with Tatum Everett on February 15th, 2023. The Vikings hired Flores from the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he was a linebackers coach for one season.

Redmond, like his practice squad peers, is just one call-up away from the gameday roster. He’s accountable for a 61.0 Pro Football Focus grade on the aforementioned 23 snaps this season, which is fairly commendable.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. 

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.