Inside The Vikings

Vikings Waive Two Second-Year Players in Defensive Front

Esezi Otomewo and Luiji Vilain are obvious candidates to remain on the practice squad.
Will Ragatz|
Vikings Waive Two Second-Year Players in Defensive Front
Vikings Waive Two Second-Year Players in Defensive Front

In this story:

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings have waived a pair of second-year players in their defensive front: OLB Luiji Vilain and DL Esezi Otomewo.

We're tracking all of Tuesday's Vikings roster moves here.

Vilain, who signed as an undrafted free agent last year, is the more surprising of the two. He had a strong preseason and seemed to be ahead of rookie Andre Carter II in the battle for a fifth roster spot at outside linebacker. Instead, this move indicates Carter — who received significant guaranteed money as a UDFA this year — will make the roster instead.

Vilain made the initial 53-man roster as a rookie last year and appeared in two games on defense. Across 112 snaps this preseason, he earned a 68.1 PFF grade and finished second on the Vikings' roster with eight pressures (Benton Whitley had nine). Vilain had a sack in the first game and had another in the finale that was negated by a penalty on a teammate. If he clears waivers, the Wake Forest product will almost certainly end up on the Vikings' practice squad.

Otomewo is less surprising, even though he was a fifth-round pick last year. The former Minnesota Golden Gopher hasn't seemed to climb up the depth chart over the past two years. He's theoretically a good fit as a 3-4 defensive end, but Otomewo didn't stand out much this year in training camp or the preseason. He's also a practice squad candidate.

Thanks for reading. Make sure to bookmark this site and check back daily for the latest Vikings news and analysis all season long.

Subscribe to the Inside the Vikings newsletter

Follow Will Ragatz on Twitter

Published
Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

Share on XFollow WillRagatz
Home/News