Tag: Malik Knowles

Malik Knowles designated to Reserve/NFI list after being waived

The former Kansas State Wildcat was placed on the Reserve/NFI list after being waived by the Minnesota Vikings on Monday.

After being waived yesterday, former Kansas State receiver Malik Knowles has been designated to the reserve/non-football-injury list. This news was reported by Aaron Wilson of Houston KPCR2. 

This news comes a day after Wilson and The Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling confirmed the former second-team All-American was waived with an injury designation. Being placed on the reserve/non-football-injury list means that Knowles cannot practice until after week six and can return to the field in week seven.

Knowles was an undrafted free agent that signed within hours of the draft ending in April. Unfortunately, he was not able to show off the explosive speed he was known for at Kansas State due to a PCL injury he suffered pre-draft. That explosiveness down the field and his ability as a kick returner made him an intriguing UDFA pickup for the Vikings. 

However, with this latest injury news, it will be more difficult for the 22-year-old to make an NFL roster. Knowles scored 17 total touchdowns, including three kick return touchdowns during his five-year career at Kansas State University.

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Minnesota Vikings waive WR Malik Knowles

After signing as an undrafted free agent, Malik Knowles was waived by the Minnesota Vikings.

After signing as an undrafted free agent within two hours of the NFL draft ending, the Minnesota Vikings waived former Kansas State wide receiver, Malik Knowles. The news was broken by Aaron Wilson of KPCR2 Houston and confirmed by The Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling, who notes that it was with an injury designation.

For the Wildcats, Knowles showed real explosiveness on the outside as a vertical threat. He didn’t get an opportunity to test during the predraft process due to a PCL injury he suffered at the end of the 2022 season.

Part of the intrigue that Knowles offered was the special teams ability. He looked like a great gunner candidate and had three return touchdowns during his time at Kansas State.

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Vikings state of the roster: Wide receiver

The latest in our multi-part series looking at the state of the Minnesota Vikings roster, we take a look at the wide receiver position.

The 2023 season is inching closer and closer by the day and we here at Vikings Wire are previewing the season from every angle.

We are currently writing player profiles on each Minnesota Viking on the roster with projections for what their 2023 season could look like. How things look projecting forward is where the real intrigue lies.

Leading up to training camp, we will be looking at each position from a more in-depth perspective. Today, we will be looking at the wide receiver position.

Vikings 90-man roster player profile: WR Malik Knowles

A former All-American, UDFA Malik Knowles will try and find his way onto the Minnesota Vikings roster.

Welcome to the beginning of our 2023 season preview content!

Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at each player on the roster in-depth with backgrounds and how they currently project forward on the Minnesota Vikings roster.

What is the best-case scenario? What is the worst-case scenario? What should we expect from them during the preseason and beyond? We will break all of that down here.

As a staff, all of us at Vikings Wire ranked the entire 90-man roster 1-90 and will be releasing player profiles in reverse order.

7 Vikings UDFAs with best chance to make the roster

The Minnesota Vikings signed 15 undrafted free agents with seven of them having a decent shot to make the final 53-man roster.

The Minnesota Vikings added six draft picks in the 2023 NFL draft with the expectation that they all make the final 53-man roster. They also signed 15 undrafted free agents, but what are the odds that they make the roster?

With multiple holes on the roster, what odds do the undrafted free agents the Vikings signed have to make the roster? I believe that seven of them have a good chance to make it.

Here are the undrafted free agents with the best chance to make the roster and why.

Vikings have legit UDFA class: Purple Daily on Draft

The Minnesota Vikings signed 15 undrafted free agents and a few of them could make a major impact on this team.

The Minnesota Vikings did a lot of work in bringing in undrafted free agents this cycle. After only signing seven in 2022, they signed 15 in 2023, including guaranteeing the second-most money ever for an undrafted free agent to edge rusher Andre Carter II.

What does this undrafted free agent class have? Will any of them make the roster? What about potentially contributing? On the latest episode of Purple Daily on Draft, Tyler Forness and Thor Nystrom discussed just that. They focused on:

  • LB Ivan Pace Jr.
  • Edge Andre Carter II
  • CB NaJee Thompson
  • WR Malik Knowles
  • OL Jacky Chen
  • NT Calvin Avery
  • QB/WR Cephus Thompson

You can watch the full episode here.

Breaking down the Vikings UDFA signings

The Minnesota Vikings brought in 15 UDFA signings. @TheKevinFielder provides an introduction with a brief synopsis of all 15.

While hearing their name called during the NFL Draft is the dream of every college prospect, some don’t get that luxury.

With just 259 draft picks, more players find themselves waiting after Saturday’s conclusion to find their chance. Often forgotten, these undrafted free agents come into the NFL with limited expectations but high hopes.

Over the years, a laundry list of undrafted free agents have carved out long careers, including former Minnesota Vikings Hall of Fame defensive tackle, John Randle.

This season, the Vikings signed 15 players to an undrafted free-agent deal. These players will go through the off-season program, hoping to make the team’s 53-man roster before the regular season begins.

Here are each of those signings.

5 Wildcats Alabama fans should get to know ahead of Sugar Bowl matchup

5 Kansas State Wildcats that Alabama fans should know about.

It was announced on Sunday that the Alabama Crimson Tide would be facing the Big 12 champs, the Kansas State Wildcats in the 89th annual Allstate Sugar Bowl on Dec. 31.

While the disappointment may still be fresh on the mind of Alabama football fans about missing out on the College Football Playoffs, making it to a New Year’s six bowl game is nothing to hang your head about.

[autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] and the Crimson Tide now have just one more opportunity to show what this version of Alabama can do on the gridiron.

Since the Wildcats are not a traditional powerhouse and it’s likely that not many Alabama fans are familiar with their roster, I thought it was a good time for Tide fans to get to know some of Kansas State’s best players.

Let’s roll!

5 Sooners to watch on defense against Kansas State

Oklahoma will need a solid performance from these five defensive players when they take on Kansas State.

Oklahoma’s Big 12 campaign gets underway under the lights Saturday night in what should be a competitive matchup. Oklahoma and Kansas State two have played each other fairly close over the last few years. Kansas State comes into the game on the heels of a loss while Oklahoma straps their pads up following a dismantling of their longtime rivals, the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

In recent years, Kansas State felt like a lock to push the Sooners to the brink. While that remains a possibility, if Oklahoma can take care of things on the defensive side of the ball, they’ll put themselves in a much better position to win on Saturday.

There are a handful of Oklahoma players that could play a significant role in propelling this defense to victory. Take a look at our five defensive players to watch heading into the matchup with the Wildcats.

No. 6 Oklahoma Sooners vs. Kansas State Wildcats: Stream, injury report, broadcast info for Saturday

No. 6 Oklahoma hosts Kansas State on Saturday, and if you’re wondering how you can watch the action, you’ve come to the right place.

The No. 6 ranked Oklahoma Sooners take on the [autotag]Kansas State Wildcats[/autotag] on Saturday night, and if you’re wondering how you can watch the action live, you’ve come to the right place.

The Oklahoma Sooners welcome in the alma mater of head coach Brent Venables for his first Big 12 game at the helm. Venables, who both played and coached for the Wildcats in the 80s and 90s before joining Bob Stoops’ staff in 1999.

The Sooners are coming into this primetime matchup hot, averaging 42.2 points per game after dropping 49 on the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Lincoln. They’ve won each of their games by 30 points. The Sooners’ defense has been equally good, allowing just 10 points per game through three weeks.

Kansas State had a strong start to the season with a shutout of South Dakota and a blowout win over Missouri in week two. Things came to a screeching halt in week three with their 17-10 loss to Tulane.

This is Oklahoma’s toughest test of the season on both sides of the ball. Deuce Vaughn and Felix Anudike-Uzomah are two of the best players in the country. While Adrian Martinez hasn’t been trusted to push the ball down the field, he’s a player that can hurt you with his legs.

The Sooners are currently minus-13.5 point favorites over the Wildcats. Though Kansas State has been a tough matchup for the Sooners over the last few years, many believe the Sooners will win this matchup and win big.

Here’s when you should tune in to see the game:

  • Date: Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022
  • Time: 7 p.m. CT
  • TV Channel: Fox
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch here)
  • Listen: Streaming on the Varsity App

Oklahoma vs. Kansas State injury report:

Oklahoma

No Injuries to report.

Kansas State

Will Honas, LB: Questionable (Undisclosed), missed the last three games.

Shawn Robinson, LB: Questionable (Undisclosed), missed the last three games.

Taylor Poitier, OL: Out for Season (Knee).

Players to watch:

Oklahoma

[autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag], QB: 66.7%, 9.7 yards per attempt, 759 yards, 7 passing touchdowns, 2 rushing touchdowns.

[autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], RB: 37 carries, 286 yards, 7.7 yards per carry, 2 rushing touchdowns, 4 receptions, 43 yards.

[autotag]Marcus Major[/autotag], RB: 24 carries, 127 yards, 5.3 yards per attempt, 4 touchdowns, 3 receptions, 43 yards, 1 touchdown.

[autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag], WR: 14 receptions for 310 yards, 2 touchdowns.

[autotag]Reggie Grimes[/autotag], DE: 10 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 4 sacks.

[autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], LB: 25 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 pass breakups.

[autotag]David Ugwoegbu[/autotag], LB: 19 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 pass breakup.

[autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag], S: 24 tackles, 2 pass breakups, 2 fumble recoveries.

Kansas State

[autotag]Adrian Martinez[/autotag], QB: 62.1%, 4.6 yards per attempt, 304 passing yards, 1 touchdown. 39 carries for 150 yards, 2 touchdowns.

[autotag]Deuce Vaughn[/autotag], RB: 62 carries, 352 yards, 5.2 yards per carry, 3 touchdowns. 10 receptions for 36 yards.

[autotag]D.J. Giddens[/autotag], RB: 17 carries, 132 yards, 7.8 yards per carry, 2 touchdowns.

[autotag]Malik Knowles[/autotag], WR: 10 receptions for 92 yards, 1 carry for 75 yards, 1 touchdown.

[autotag]Felix Anudike-Uzomah[/autotag], DE: 9 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks.

[autotag]Austin Moore[/autotag], LB: 19 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 sack.

Daniel Green, LB: 12 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 1 pass breakup.

Kobe Savage, S: 12 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 2 interceptions.

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