Minnesota waived DT Hercules Mata’afa this week. Mata’afa, a defensive tackle, put on weight this offseason, and was tabbed by some to become a breakout player for the Vikings.
Mata’afa tweeted a clown emoji after getting waived. He later deleted the tweet.
The defensive lineman might not be on the 53-man roster, but after clearing waivers, Minnesota signed him to the practice squad, the team announced Thursday.
The Vikings signed fellow defensive lineman Jordan Brailford to replace Mata’afa. Brailford, a defensive end, is a former seventh-round pick. The Vikings poached him from the Washington Football Team’s practice squad.
Brailford could make for depth at a position group that is missing its best player in Danielle Hunter. Yannick Ngakoue has been good in Hunter’s absence and Ifeadi Odenigbo has been good recently, but the other defensive ends have been inconsistent. Maybe Brailford can step up.