Tag: Kenny Willekes

Former local college standouts among the Lions tryouts after Week 2

The Detroit Lions held tryouts for 7 players on Tuesday, including a couple of familiar local college products

Tuesday was tryout day in Allen Park for the Detroit Lions. The Lions worked out seven players during the off day from practice, per the NFL’s transaction wire.

A couple of the players will be familiar names to fans of college football in the Mitten State. Former Michigan State defensive end Kenny Willekes and Western Michigan cornerback Darius Phillips were among the septet of tryout players. From the D-II level, running back Nate McCrary from Saginaw Valley State also worked out.

The other tryouts:

LB Mitchell Agude

CB Chris Jackson

RB Abram Smith

LB Jordan Smith

No players were immediately signed.

Former MSU football DE Kenny Willekes trying out for Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions hosted a familiar face for a tryout on Tuesday:

Kenny Willekes was a standout defensive end for Michigan State from 2015 to 2019. The former walk-on went on to get drafted in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings, where he played for three seasons. Willekes recorded 16 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a pass deflection in his time with Minnesota.

Now, as a free agent, it appears Willekes is looking to make his way back into the NFL. The defensive end was listed on the Detroit Lions’ most recent try out report:

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List of former Vikings remaining as free agents

There are plenty of former Vikings remaining on the free agent market.

After being active in the free-agent market, the Minnesota Vikings have made a lot of moves to keep players on the roster. They entered the offseason with 25 free agents and have brought back 10 of them.

Now that we are in the month of June, that number has decreased significantly. Teams have filled their 90-man rosters with draft picks and undrafted free agents. The signing of players has decreased significantly.

Here are the remaining Vikings free agents still available to sign on the open market.

Vikings sign XFL WR Lucky Jackson, waive OLB Kenny Willekes

After a successful season with the XFL’s DC Defenders, wide receiver Lucky Jackson signed with the Minnesota Vikings.

With many XFL players having tryouts across the league, the Minnesota Vikings have joined the party. They have signed wide receiver Lucky Jackson from the XFL’s DC Defenders. In order to make room for him on the roster, they have waived 2020 seventh-round pick outside linebacker Kenny Willekes.

Before playing for the DC Defenders, Jackson was a standout for Western Kentucky. He broke out as a senior in 2019 with 94 receptions, 1,133 yards and four touchdowns.

Since leaving the Hilltoppers, Jackson played in the spring league in 2021, the CFL’s Edmonton Elks in 2022 and the Defenders this spring. For the defenders, he tallied 36 receptions for 572 yards and five touchdowns.

After an injury-plagued career with the Vikings., Willekes was hoping to earn a roster spot this season but it wasn’t meant to be. They could choose to bring him back when Dalvin Cook eventually leaves, but he will hit waivers first.

Spartans in the NFL: Kenny Willekes to re-sign with Minnesota Vikings

Kenny Willekes is re-signing with the Minnesota Vikings

After spending most of his career on the injured reserve list, Kenny Willekes will still be coming back to the Minnesota Vikings, who drafted him back in 2020 in the seventh round. Willekes’ agency announced the news on Twitter on Tuesday night.

Willekes started his career on the injured reserve list with a knee injury, but was able to impress in six games back in 2021, before spending the entire 2022 season injured again.

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Agency representing Kenny Willekes announces his return to Vikings

According to his agency, Kenny Willekes will return to the #Vikings in 2023

The Minnesota Vikings are re-signing defensive end Kenny Willekes, according to his agency Priority Sports.

Willekes was a seventh-round pick by the Vikings in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Michigan State University. He appeared in four games for the team last season, recording two tackles and a quarterback hit.

Bringing Willekes back gives the Vikings more depth at the defensive end position, which has been an area of concern for the team this heading into this offseason. Willekes will have an opportunity to continue developing his craft and could potentially make significant contributions to the team in the future.

Though the details of his contract have not yet been announced, bringing back Willekes is a low-risk move that could potentially pay off for the Vikings in the long run. The team will hope that he continues to progress and become a productive player for them in the years to come.

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Former Michigan State football players in the 2023 NFL playoffs

Check out which former Spartans will be suiting up in the 2023 NFL playoffs:

The 2022-23 regular season has commenced in the National Football League and the league is gearing up for the 2023 playoffs. In 2022, Spartan Nation got to see former offensive lineman Brian Allen win a Super Bowl ring with the Los Angeles Rams, the fanbase hopes they will get to see another Michigan State alum do the same in 2023.

Take a look at all of the former Spartans that will be participating in the 2023 NFL playoffs:

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on Twitter @Cory_Linsner.

Kenny Willekes clears waivers, reverted to injured reserve for Vikings

Willekes goes on injured reserve

After being waived on Thursday, Kenny Willekes is now reportedly going on injured reserve for the Minnesota Vikings.

The Pioneer Press’ Chris Tomasson reported on Friday that the third-year defensive end cleared waivers and was reverted to injured reserve. Per Tomasson, Willekes could miss the entire season with the injury, which has yet to be disclosed by the team.

Staying on the field has been equally as challenging as getting on the field for the former seventh-round pick out of Michigan State. He missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury, and he only appeared in six games last season.

But there were a few flashes in those brief appearances that showed at least some promise. He racked up seven total tackles in Week 8 against the Baltimore Ravens in 2021, and in the season finale, he helped wreck the Chicago Bears’ offensive backfield with two sacks and three quarterback hits.

The potential is there for Willekes to contribute along the defensive front, but it’s also clear that the best ability is availability. And he just hasn’t been available.

The Vikings announced the signing of Jonathan Bullard on Thursday to fill the vacant roster spot. If anything, it’s another veteran player that gives them depth up front.

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Vikings sign DE Jonathan Bullard after waiving Kenny Willekes

The Vikings made a couple of roster moves on Thursday

Kenny Willekes’ time with the Minnesota Vikings has come to an end with the team waiving him on Thursday. In a corresponding move, the Vikings have signed veteran defensive end Jonathan Bullard.

The team is desperately seeking to beef up their pass rush this season, and Willekes simply hasn’t been available on the field.

A knee injury ruined his rookie campaign in 2020, and he only played in six games in 2021. And according to the team’s social media account, Willekes was released with an injury designation. So the team went out and signed a veteran with experience to take his place.

Bullard started in four games for the Atlanta Falcons last season. He didn’t come away with any sacks, but he did muster 21 tackles, one pass deflection and a quarterback hit.

The Vikings are cleary looking to build depth on the edge behind Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith. Bullard has the experience and availability to serve well in a backup role.

Of course, Willekes could always return later down the line if he manages to clear waivers. But other teams might be swayed by the potential after seeing him rack up two sacks and three tackles for a loss in the finale against the Chicago Bears last season.

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Vikings make several roster moves

The Vikings announced a few moves on Saturday.

The Vikings defense is thinning out as it heads towards the last stretch of the 2021 regular season.

Minnesota already saw DE Danielle Hunter go down with a season-ending injury. The Vikings placed Everson Griffen on the NFI list as well. The team also waived starting cornerback Bashaud Breeland.

Minnesota hit another obstacle on Saturday: the team downgraded DT Michael Pierce to out for the Week 17 matchup in Green Bay on Sunday night.

The Vikings were not done there. Minnesota activated Oli Udoh off COVID-19/Reserve. With OL Mason Cole on IR, Udoh can be a useful player if he makes a speedy return to the starting lineup.

The team also called up S Myles Dorn, CB Tye Smith and DE Kenny Willekes to the active roster via COVID-19 replacement. Minnesota elevated  DT T.Y. McGill and DE Eddie Yarbrough from the practice squad, too.

Pierce, the Vikings’ biggest free agency signing of 2020, was a high-risk opt out last year. This year, he returned to playing in games, but has dealt with injuries for much of the season.

Pierce has played in just eight games for the Vikings so far. This week, Pierce will be out with an illness. The nose tackle was previously tabbed as questionable for the Packers game.