Tag: Tanner Vallejo

Steelers host FA linebacker Tanner Vallejo

Pittsburgh is onthe hunt for another inside linebacker.

As the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare to call up one or more inside linebackers this week, the team is already looking for their replacements on the practice squad. According to NFL reporter Aaron Wilson, the Steelers brought in veteran linebacker Tanner Vallejo for a visit on Thursday.

Vallejo is a former sixth-round pick of the Buffalo Bills. He’s made the rounds having been on four different teams since 2017. His longest tenure has been with the Arizona Cardinals from 2019-2022. He started five games for the Cardinals in 2022 and 37 total tackles.

The need for a player like Vallejo stems from the rash of injuries by inside linebackers in recent weeks. In back-to-back weeks, Pittsburgh lost Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander for the season. Pittsburgh is likely to call up Mykal Walker and/or Tariq Carpenter from the practice squad to finish out the season.

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Broncos host 3 free agents, including an ex-Saints wide receiver

The Broncos hosted LBs Bumper Pool and Tanner Vallejo and ex-Saints WR Tre’Quan Smith this week.

The Denver Broncos seem to be seeking more depth at linebacker and wide receiver.

The Broncos brought in two free agent linebackers — Bumper Pool and Tanner Vallejo — for workouts on Wednesday, according to the NFL’s transaction wire.

Denver is also bringing in wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith for a visit, according to multiple reports (via Saints Wire).

Pool (6-2, 232 pounds) signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas earlier this year. He totaled 441 tackles in five years (51 games) with the Razorbacks.

Vallejo (6-1, 230 pounds) has spent time with five NFL teams since entering the league as a sixth-round pick out of Boise State with the Buffalo Bills in 2017. He played under Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph last season, recording 37 tackles in 17 games (five starts).

Denver is likely looking for more depth at LB after losing Josey Jewell to a groin injury against the Miami Dolphins last week.

Smith (6-2, 210 pounds) was picked by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft out of UCF. He played under Broncos coach Sean Payton from 2018-2021. Smith has totaled 131 receptions for 1,764 yards and 18 touchdowns in 66 career games (35 starts).

Denver already has four former Saints on the 53-man roster. We’ll see if Smith joins them this week.

Vikings roster cuts: Tracking the path to 53 players

Keep track of every Vikings cut and trade here

The Minnesota Vikings are on the path to finalizing their 53-man roster.

By 3 pm central time on Tuesday, August 29th, every team in the National Football League will need to be down 53 players on the roster. Once that happens, anyone with less than four years of National Football League experience will be placed on waivers until 12 pm central time on Wednesday, August 30th. Those players who have 4+ years of vested experience are released and can sign with a team immediately

There were a lot of players for the Vikings that were firmly on the bubble and they had a chance to shine on Saturday afternoon against the Arizona Cardinals. Last season, the Vikings didn’t just do their roster cuts and form their practice squad, they also traded for Jalen Reagor and Ross Blacklock.

What will they do this year? Keep track of every roster move the Vikings make to get down to the magical number of 53.

Vikings begin roster cuts, release linebacker

The roster cuts for the Minnesota Vikings have begun

The Minnesota Vikings have begun their roster cuts. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pellisero, the Vikings have released LB Tanner Vallejo.

Vallejo was brought in two weeks ago for depth on defense and special teams, which is his calling card.

He was a sixth-round pick out of Boise State in 2017 by the Buffalo Bills. He spent a year with them while also spending time with the Cleveland Browns, Washington Commanders and Arizona Cardinals.

Vallejo is the first of 37+ roster moves over the next 48 hours. It was a long shot for him to make the roster, but he would be a candidate for the practice squad.

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Vikings waive LB William Kwenkeu with injury designation

In order to make room for Tanner Vallejo, the Minnesota Vikings waived linebacker William Kwenkeu with an injury designation.

The Minnesota Vikings officially announced the signing of linebacker Tanner Vallejo and in a corresponding move, waived linebacker William Kwenkeu with an injury designation.

Waiving Kwenkeu seemingly confirms the reason for signing Vallejo days after the preseason opener. While Vallejo’s signing likely offered some concern around Brian Asamoah II’s status, it seems Vallejo is extra linebacker depth following Kwenkeu’s injury.

Kwenkeu appeared in the Vikings’ preseason opener but left the game injured. Kwenkeu totaled two tackles before departing.

Waiving Kwenkeu with an injury designation means the Vikings could revert him to injured reserve if he goes unclaimed on waivers. However, since Kwenkeu would be placed on injured reserve before the start of the season, he’ll have to spend the entire season on IR. As a result, this move ends Kwenkeu’s season.

The Vikings signed Kwenkeu as an undrafted free agent in 2022. Kwenkeu started last season on the team’s practice squad but was elevated to the active roster later in the year. He appeared in a total of six games but did not garner a lot of snaps.

Report: Vikings sign LB Tanner Vallejo

The Minnesota Vikings added additional linebacker depth by signing special teams ace Tanner Vallejo.

The Minnesota Vikings added additional linebacker depth on Sunday by signing Tanner Vallejo, according to a report by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Vallejo, 28, was a 6th round selection by the Buffalo Bills in the 2017 NFL Draft. Since then, Vallejo has played for four teams. Vallejo most recently spent three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals before becoming a free agent.

Vallejo played in 17 games last season, starting in five of them. He finished with a career-high in tackles (37) and defensive snaps (280). However, Vallejo still made his money on special teams, playing 375 special teams snaps in 2022.

The move comes just a few days after the Vikings’ preseason opener, which may have highlighted some of the team’s struggles at the position.

Linebacker Brian Asamoah II, a projected starter for the Vikings, is also injured and will miss another day of practice on Sunday. While it’s unclear if Asamoah will miss anytime during the season, Vallejo at least provides another depth piece at the position.

Still, Vallejo isn’t a guarantee to make the Vikings’ 53-man roster. His special teams may give him a leg up on the competition, but he is likely fighting for a spot with Troy Dye and Troy Reeder.

Titans worked out 2 other LBs before signing Ben Niemann

The Titans worked out two other linebackers on Monday before ultimately signing Ben Niemann.

The Tennessee Titans took a look at three different inside linebackers on Monday before settling on veteran and former Arizona Cardinal, Ben Niemann.

According to the league’s transactions wire, the other two linebackers Tennessee worked out were Nick Kwiatkoski and Tanner Vallejo.

Vallejo was actually a teammate of Niemann’s with the Cardinals in 2022. He appeared in 17 games (five starts) and tallied 37 tackles (two for loss), one pass defensed, one forced fumble and two QB hits.

Kwiatkoski spent last season with the Atlanta Falcons, where he played in 12 games (zero starts) and finished with seven combined tackles while playing only on special teams.

The addition of Niemann, who also has experience playing on special teams, gives the Titans another depth option behind projected starters Azeez Al-Shaair and Monty Rice.

Niemann will be competing for one of the backup spots in training camp, along with Chance Campbell, Luke Gifford and Jack Gibbens.

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Cardinals activate LB Tanner Vallejo from COVID list, release 2 players

The Cardinals get a linebacker back heading into wild-card weekend.

The Arizona Cardinals get back another linebacker this week as they prepare for their playoff matchup next Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams. Linebacker Tanner Vallejo was activated from the COVID list Monday as well as defensive tackle Zach Kerr.

Vallejo went on last week after he came off injured reserve.

The Cardinals released Kerr after he was activated from the COVID list.

They also released practice squad cornerback Nate Hall.

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P Andy Lee activated from COVID list; Tanner Vallejo, Zeke Turner designated to return from IR

Lee returns after missing one game, while Zeke Turner and Tanner Vallejo return to practice from injured reserve.

The Arizona Cardinals announced some roster moves on Wednesday. The first is fantastic news.

Punter Andy Lee, who missed the game against the Indianapolis Colts when he tested positive for COVID-19, was activated from the list and reinstated to the active roster. Punter Ryan Winslow, signed to the practice squad last week and elevated to play  in the game, was released.

Lee’s return will be huge for the kicking game. Kicker Matt Prater missed two field goals and an extra point on Saturday, partly because of issues with the hold.

Prater has missed seven field goals and two extra points all season. Four of the missed field goals and both missed extra points were when he was missing either long snapper Aaron Brewer or Lee as the holder.

The Cardinals also designated linebackers Tanner Vallejo and Zeke Turner from injured reserve.

Turner has been out since Week 5 with a shoulder injury. He is an ace on special teams.

Vallejo has been out since Week 10 with a knee injury. He had replaced rookie Zaven Collins in the starting lineup before he got hurt.

They now can return to practice and must be activated from IR within 21 days or revert to IR for the rest of the season.

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Cardinals place LB Tanner Vallejo on IR, make roster moves ahead of game vs. Seahawks

Vallejo will miss at least three games with a knee injury. The Cardinals signed LS Beau Brinkley and RB Tavien Feaster to the roster, and elevated LBs Joe Walker and Tahir Whitehead.

The Arizona Cardinals announced some roster moves Saturday afternoon on the eve of their Week 11 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. One move affects the defensive rotation.

Linebacker Tanner Vallejo, who had earned playing time at linebacker in their base defensive package over rookie Zaven Collins, was placed on injured reserve after hurting his knee last week. He will be out a minimum of three games.

They signed two players to the active roster from the practice squad. They added long snapper Beau Brinkley and running back Tavien Feaster, two moves they needed to make.

With Aaron Brewer on injured reserve, Brinkley is the only long snapper on the team. He was elevated from the practice squad last week as a standard elevation.

Feaster was signed to the roster for the second week in a row. Running back Jonathan Ward is missing his third straight game with a concussion.

The Cardinals also elevated two linebackers, bringing up Joe Walker and newly signed Tahir Whitehead as standard elevations.

Walker has been getting playing time on special teams.

The elevation of Whitehead, a 10-year veteran who has been a starter for the better part of the last seven seasons, is something to watch.

Vallejo had earned playing time ahead of Collins, their first-round pick this year. With his injury, will the Cardinals turn back to Collins or will Whiethead get Vallejo’s snaps?

It will be something to watch on Sunday.

The Cardinals and Seahawks kick off at 2:25 p.m. Arizona time.

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