Tag: Kene Nwangwu

WATCH: Former Viking takes a kick return 99 yards for a TD

The former Minnesota Viking scored a long one for the Jets after being brought up from the practice squad on Saturday.

It was a bit shocking when the Vikings moved on from kick return specialist Kene Nwangwu. Minnesota made the move back in late August and when it did so, the Vikings had just Aaron Jones and Ty Chandler on the roster at running back.

A fourth-round pick by the Rick Spielman regime in 2021, Nwangwu came to the Vikings as a developmental RB who hadn’t played much at Iowa State. Where he provided plenty of value was on special teams. Nwangwu returned two kickoffs for touchdowns as a rookie and added another in 2022. Last season, though, he handled a career-low 15 returns in nine games.

But Nwangwu found his way back on an NFL roster. On Sunday, he returned a 99-yard kick return for a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks.

It’s the first time Nwangwu has been elevated to the Jets’ active roster, and he has an opportunity to make his 2024 regular-season debut against the Seahawks on Sunday. Nwangwu played in nine regular-season games for the Vikings in 2023 and logged five carries for 13 yards.

Kene Nwangwu signs with the New York Jets practice squad

After failing the New Orleans Saints’ entry physical, former All-Pro kick returner Kene Nwangwu signed with the New York Jets practice squad:

Kene Nwangwu has found a new home with the New York Jets as a member of their practice squad, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. This means he passed their physical which was not the case in New Orleans.

The New Orleans Saints initially claimed Nwangwu in August after he was waived by the Minnesota Vikings. The vision was that he could pair with Rashid Shaheed to give the Saints two All-Pro returners. With the NFL looking to increase the amount of kickoff returns, this combination could have paid dividends for the squad.

Unfortunately, we were never able to see this as the Saints failed Nwangwu’s physical. It wasn’t revealed what exactly led to the failed test, but it has been a week and a half since then. It was either something minor or this is an example of how all team physicals aren’t the same.

For the Jets, this is their second attempt at adding a dynamic kick returner. New York now adds Nwangwu to the practice squad. Expect him to be called up to the active game-day roster at least once. If he’s productive, he has a skillset that creates an easy path to the 53-man roster.

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Kene Nwangwu fails physical with Saints, placed back on waivers

Former Minnesota Vikings running back Kene Nwangwu was placed back on waivers Thursday after failing a physical with the New Orleans Saints.

The strange saga of Kene Nwangwu continues. The story started with Nwangwu being a surprise cut from the Minnesota Vikings ahead of the NFL’s roster cutdown day. Then, the New Orleans Saints claimed the former Vikings running back, ending any hope of his return to the Vikings, either on the practice squad or the active roster.

Or so we thought. It turns out that things in New Orleans haven’t gone as planned for the Saints and Nwangwu. The team announced on Friday that Nwangwu had failed his physical and would be placed back on the waiver wire as a result.

No details were released on what caused Nwangwu to fail the physical, but he is now back on waivers and free for any team to claim him. However, after failing a physical, Nwangwu is unlikely to be claimed by anyone, including the Vikings.

However, if no one claims Nwangwu, he will become a free agent and be free to sign with any team that makes him an offer, whether that be for that team’s practice squad or as a member of their active 53-man roster. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Nwangwu will return to the Vikings and get placed on their roster in some capacity.

While not contributing much as a running back during his previous stint with the Vikings, Nwangwu was a solid contributor on special teams in Minnesota’s return game. That contribution is what made Nwangwu’s initial release such a surprise. Now that he’s back on the market, Minnesota could reach out and try to mend fences with the talented return man.

Kene Nwangwu waived due to failed physical a day after signing

Kene Nwangwu offered a potentially exciting kick return duo with Rashid Shaheed, but a failed physical stopped that thought in its tracks.

There was immediate excitement when the New Orleans Saints claimed running back Kene Nwangwu off waivers Wednesday. Unfortunately, Nwangwu failed his physical on Wednesday which led to him hitting waivers again.

Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak was familiar with Nwangwu from his time in Minnesota. Nwangwu offered explosion that would have made a slightly bigger sample size an interesting possibility in New Orleans. His primary role would be as a returner, though.

Nwangwu was an All-Pro returner in 2022 and could have paired with fellow All-Pro returner, Rashid Shaheed, to give the Saints a dangerous tandem under the new return rules.

Prior to signing Nwangwu, Mason Tipton, Taysom Hill and Alontae Taylor joined Shaheed in taking kick return reps at practice.

Saints claim former All-Pro return man Kene Nwangwu off waivers

The Saints claimed a former All-Pro return man in Vikings running back Kene Nwangwu, adding more options for the new kickoff format:

The New Orleans Saints utilized their waivers position at No. 14 to make a claim Wednesday, bringing in 2022 All-Pro returner Kene Nwangwu per NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill. This move was also officially confirmed via the NFL waiver system transaction report, shared  by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

First off, this move will require a respective move to be made, whether that be another player to injured reserve or someone being released or waived.

As for Nwangwu, he has been an exceptional kick return man throughout his career, leading the league in 2022 with 35 kick returns, and in 2021 with two kick return touchdowns (three of them in his career). His most notable of the three was a 99-yard return touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in 2021, which conveniently came when Klint Kubiak was with the Vikings as well. Nwangwu only ran the ball sparingly for Kubiak that season but he averaged 4.7 yards per carry.

With the new kickoff format coming to the NFL this season, the Saints will now have two All-Pro returners on the team in Nwangwu and Rashid Shaheed, which should help their chances at being one of the first teams to really get accustomed to it quickly.

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Vikings RB Ty Chandler is listed as the top KR on the depth chart

After a shocking cut, the Vikings appear to know who their new kick returner will be in 2024.

After a shocking cut by the Vikings, former running back and kick returner Kene Nwangwu is no longer with Minnesota. While Nwangwu didn’t show much as a runner, he was a valuable part of the Vikings’ special teams, and Minnesota is now searching for a new returner.

According to the Vikings’ official depth chart, it would appear that running back Ty Chandler would be the top kicker returner. Wide receiver Brandon Powell is listed behind Chandler as the second option.

Chandler has four career kick returners for 97 yards.

The Vikings currently have just two running backs on their roster, which is abnormal. Most teams have three or four running backs on their roster, and it’s almost a certainty Minnesota will add at least one more running back. If not, it’s unlikely Chandler would stay as kick returner, being the second option to Aaron Jones.

Powell and Jalen Nailor are expected to handle the punt return duties.

WATCH: Vikings RB Kene Nwangwu breaks off a long touchdown run

The Minnesota Vikings offense was picking up chunk plays for most of the first half, but Kene Nwangwu stole the show. 

The Minnesota Vikings offense was picking up chunk plays for most of the first half, but Kene Nwangwu stole the show.

The fourth-year running back out of Iowa State was working in the running back committee they were using in the first half. Both he and Ty Chandler, as well as Aaron Jones, were getting the carries. No one had really made much headway against the talented Las Vegas Raiders defensive front headed by Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins.

Despite those two monsters in front of him, Kene Nwangwu didn’t hesitate to hit the middle of the line. The Vikings offensive line gave him some running room and Nwangwu tested his vision to do the rest of the work for him.

48 yards later, the Vikings were on the board with their first score of the 2024 preseason. It was a fun and impressive way for the Vikings offense to start things for the 2024 campaign.

Report: Vikings expected to sign free agent RB Cam Akers pending physical

According to a report from Pioneer Press writer Charley Walters, the Minnesota Vikings intend to sign RB Cam Akers, pending a physical.

A familiar face could soon be joining — or rather, re-joining — the Minnesota Vikings backfield. According to a report from Pioneer Press writer Charley Walters, the Vikings are poised to bring back running back Cam Akers, provided he passes a physical.

Akers remained with the team for the 2023 season after a late-September trade with the Los Angeles Rams brought him to Minneapolis. Like most Vikings running backs in 2023, Akers struggled to gain yards.

In six games with the team, Akers ran the ball 38 times for just 138 yards and one touchdown before being lost for the season with a torn Achilles — just one week after starting quarterback Kirk Cousins suffered the same injury.

Adding Akers to the Vikings backfield could spell the end for at least one running back on the roster. Free agent acquisition Aaron Jones will be safe and, presumably, the team’s starting running back. Ty Chandler should also be secure as a change-of-pace back to spell Jones.

Beyond that, though, the situation at the position gets interesting. Currently, the Vikings have Kene Nwangwu, DeWayne McBride, and Myles Gaskin on the roster. Nwangwu’s roster spot is likely also safe due mainly to the special team’s contributions he brings to the team.

It’s hard to imagine the Vikings going into the season with six running backs on the roster, which likely spells the end of the road for either McBride or Gaskin — or perhaps both. One of them could wind up on the practice squad, but it’s unlikely both do.

McBride was drafted by the Vikings in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft and spent all of last season on the team’s practice squad. Gaskin was originally a seventh-round selection by the Miami Dolphins in the 2019 NFL Draft and spent his first four seasons in Miami — including one year as a starter — before joining the Vikings for a portion of last season.

Vikings initial injury report includes Justin Jefferson

The initial injury report for the Minnesota Vikings game against the Las Vegas Raiders includes Justin Jefferson.

The Minnesota Vikings listed six players on their initial injury report for week 14 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

  • S Theo Jackson (illness): Did not practice
  • RB Kene Nwangwu (concussion): Limited
  • CB NaJee Thompson (knee): Limited
  • NT Khyiris Tonga (knee): Full
  • CB Akayleb Evans (calf): Full
  • WR Justin Jefferson (hamstring): Full

The good news here is both Jefferson and Evans are not just practicing in full after the bye week, but they are also on track to return against the Raiders.

On the same accord, Tonga is still practicing in full with his knee injury. He hasn’t missed any time, but it’s noteworthy.

Both Thompson and Nwangwu’s injuries are new and noteworthy. We will learn more throughout the rest of the week. If they don’t play, it would be a massive blow to special teams.

Jackson out with an illness could be a myriad of things. It’s not a good thing to be out with an illness. Considering Lewis Cine is now off the injury report, it could be a sign that Cine will get some playing time on defense.

T.J. Hockenson is off the injury report as well, meaning he is all better from his rib injury.

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4 offensive keys for Vikings vs. Broncos

Minnesota’s offense has been on a tear with Dobbs at the helm. To continue, they will need to follow these four keys to victory on Sunday.

What was once labeled as a throwaway game a few weeks ago has suddenly become one of the more interesting matchups on the docket for week 11.

The Minnesota Vikings head on the road to battle the Denver Broncos in primetime Sunday at 7:20 p.m. CST.

Minnesota is on a whopping five-game winning streak since starting the season 1-4, becoming one of the better feel-good stories in the NFL.

Denver has gone on a three-game winning streak of their own, including wins against powerhouses like the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills.

During their win streak, their defense has been playing lights-out. The Broncos are sixth in EPA per play allowed and seventh in EPA per dropback allowed since week seven.

If the Vikings want to keep their winning streak going, they will need to follow these keys to success against this zoned-in Denver defense.