The Viking Age
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Minnesota Vikings add rookie linebacker, waive Hercules Mata’afa

By Adam Carlson

PROVO, UT - NOVEMBER 12: Wide receiver Mitchell Juergens #87 of the Brigham Young Cougars can't catch the pass while being defended by Mike Needham #34 of the Southern Utah Thunderbirds in the first half at LaVell Edwards Stadium on November 12, 2016 in Provo Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
PROVO, UT - NOVEMBER 12: Wide receiver Mitchell Juergens #87 of the Brigham Young Cougars can't catch the pass while being defended by Mike Needham #34 of the Southern Utah Thunderbirds in the first half at LaVell Edwards Stadium on November 12, 2016 in Provo Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /
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Following a devastating ACL injury to Hercules Mata’afa, the Minnesota Vikings have filled his spot on the roster by signing linebacker Mike Needham.

The future was looking bright for Hercules Mata’afa, an undersized pass-rushing specialist who was an undrafted free agent following the 2018 NFL Draft. The Minnesota Vikings were doing everything they could to find a way to include the Washington State defensive lineman in their rotation, including trying him at linebacker and the defensive line.

Sadly, a tear to Mata’afa’s ACL would put him on the shelf for the season, ending any further chance to impress during training camp and preseason. However, the team has waived him with an injury designation according to Pro Football Talk, which will place him on injured reserve if he clears waivers.

To fill the spot on the roster, the team has signed linebacker Mike Needham. Another undrafted free agent, Needham was signed by the Arizona Cardinals following his time at Southern Utah and now will continue his path in the NFL with the Vikings.

Sadly, not a lot is known about Needham besides him being a first-team All-Big Sky and accumulating 100 tackles (7 for a loss), 7 pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries in his final season in college according to the Southern Utah Thunderbirds website.

Listed on Vikings.com as being six-foot-three and 224-pound linebacker is 24 years old and will enter the Vikings 90-man roster in hopes of impressing the staff and landing on the team’s practice squad or 53-man regular season roster.

Minnesota could use help at the linebacker position, where last year’s starters Anthony Barr, Eric Kendricks, and Ben Gedeon will have plenty of competition behind them to provide backups, depth, and special teams help.

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Congratulations to Mike Needham on landing with the Minnesota Vikings. No word yet on whether or not the new linebacker has any kind of desire to get to know fullback C.J. Ham or if they are already friends. (Couldn’t resist the dad joke…sorry)

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