The Minnesota Vikings have won nine consecutive games, which is more than many expected the team to win in the entire 2024 season. However, the coaching staff and the roster have built a scary team that nobody wants to face in the upcoming postseason.
Jets Claim Released Vikings Defender
In the recent victory over the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota benefitted from the comeback of a starting defender. Ivan Pace had missed the previous four games with a hamstring injury, and the Vikings subsequently placed him on IR.
His return to the lineup helped the defense as it allowed them to be more versatile with the alignment of Joshua Metellus and Blake Cashman.
However, to make room for him on the 53-man roster, the Vikings had to part ways with one player, and they said goodbye to Pace’s direct replacement, Jamin Davis.
He had to go through waivers. The New York Jets placed their waiver claim, and he’s heading to the AFC East. His new team also added ex-Vikings kicker Greg Joseph from the practice squad.
On Tuesday, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reported on X: “Jets announce additions of Phidarian Mathis and Jamin Davis to active roster, signed David Sharpe to practice squad, signed Greg Joseph to 53, placed Greg Zuerlein and Chuck Clark on IR, released Anders Carlson.”
Davis, 26, was a 2021 first-rounder for the Washington Commanders after a productive career at the University of Kentucky. In his final college season, the linebacker recorded 102 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and three interceptions.
When he then ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash, teams were intrigued. He hasn’t lived up to his potential. The Commanders released him in October after three-and-a-half seasons, and he signed with Green Bay’s practice squad until the Vikings called because they needed a blitzing linebacker to take Pace’s spot.
Davis played 21 defensive and 38 special teams snaps in his four games with the Vikings, registering five tackles and a sack.
Throughout his career, Davis has played in 50 games, tabulating 282 tackles and seven sacks in those contests. There’s a decent chance the Vikings actually wanted to add him to the practice squad, but the waiver claim prevents them from getting that chance.
The linebacker hopes to get some reps in the season finale with the Jets and perhaps audition for a spot on the 90-man roster. In the upcoming eight months, he will try to earn a 53-man roster spot on a team in the NFL.
The Vikings’ linebacker room looks like this:
- Blake Cashman
- Ivan Pace
- Kamu Grugier-Hill
- Brian Asamoah
- Calvin Munson (practice squad)
- Max Tooley (practice squad)
Davis is a talented player with outlandish athleticism, but it hasn’t clicked for him in the NFL. At the age of 26, though, there is still some more time to reach his ceiling.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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