Vikings Waive Kenny Willekes (Injury), A.J. Rose Jr. to Clear Space For New Additions

Willekes could return to the Vikings' injured reserve if he clears waivers.

The Vikings have signed a couple veteran free agents this week in defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard and wide receiver Albert Wilson.

To make room on the 90-man roster, they had to waive a couple players. Running back A.J. Rose Jr. was waived earlier this week to create space for Wilson, and defensive end Kenny Willekes was waived with an injury designation to open a spot for Bullard on Thursday.

Rose was a 2021 undrafted free agent out of Kentucky who impressed in the preseason last year, putting up 118 scrimmage yards against the Broncos and 61 yards and two touchdowns on eight touches against the Chiefs. But the Vikings are deep at running back, so Rose was expendable.

Waiving Willekes is a more significant move. The 2020 seventh-round pick out of Michigan State missed his entire rookie season with a leg injury, but returned last year and looked like a player who could fit into the Vikings' long-term plans.

Willekes played in just six games last year, also spending time on the practice squad and the COVID list, but he showed a bunch of flashes in those six games. He finished the year with 15 pressures, 2.5 sacks, 7 QB hits, and 18 tackles.

Almost all of Willekes' production came in two specific games. In Week 9 against the Ravens, he got an opportunity to see extended playing time and put his stamp all over the game. He split a sack with Sheldon Richardson to force overtime in that game after having an earlier sack called back because of a penalty. In what was his second NFL game, Willekes had four pressures and was one of the Vikings' best defensive players.

#Vikings DE Kenny Willekes looks like a legit rotational guy. 4 pressures, 7 tackles, 0.5 sacks (would've been 1.5 if not for a penalty) in Baltimore. Great power and a nonstop motor.

"He played at a different tempo than pretty much anybody else on the field." — Andre Patterson pic.twitter.com/j9XkLAInTb

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) November 10, 2021

Unfortunately, he got COVID after that game, which caused him to miss time. Willekes returned in Week 13 and had a few fairly quiet games, then had the best performance of his career in the Vikings' meaningless regular season finale. He had nine pressures, two sacks, a pass breakup, and an 86.5 PFF pass rush grade in that game.

Kenny Willekes was killing Bears RT Larry Borom all day (9 pressures), but especially at the end of the game. This altered pass and pair of sacks came in a span of five plays. Willekes really looks like a keeper. pic.twitter.com/DR6cx1xCUb

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) January 14, 2022

It's important to note that Willekes' Vikings career isn't necessarily over. If he clears waivers, he would revert to Minnesota's injured reserve and could be eligible to be activated after four games (though the severity of his current injury is unknown).

However, Willekes has put enough on tape that it wouldn't be surprising if a team claimed him (again, pending his current injury situation). As a true 4-3 defensive end, it may be better for his career to wind up with a team that runs a 4-3 defense anyways.

Update: Willekes cleared waivers and reverted to the Vikings' IR. It sounds like he might miss an entire season due to injury for the second time in three years since entering the NFL.

Willekes and Rose are young players who have showed some promise, but Willekes' health complicates things and the Vikings needed the space to sign a pair of experienced vets in Bullard and Wilson.

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