Former Vikings corner expresses interest in re-joining team

Could Captain Munnerlyn end up back with the Minnesota Vikings?

Since Mike Zimmer took over as the team’s head coach in 2014, the Minnesota Vikings normally have one of the NFL’s top pass defenses each season. Things are much different for Zimmer and the Vikings pass defense this year though.

After two games, Minnesota ranks 28th in passing yards allowed and they’ve given up the eighth-most passing touchdowns. Opposing quarterbacks have also finished with an average rating of 116.7 against the Vikings this season.

Clearly, it’s been a rough start for Minnesota’s pass defense. But should anyone really be surprised given the inexperience of the Vikings cornerback group this year?

Former Minnesota Vikings corner hoping for a reunion?

During Zimmer’s first few seasons with Minnesota, he was able to transform the team’s pass defense into one of the best in the NFL. Helping him do this was a combination of young talent and experienced veterans.

Captain Munnerlyn was among the veterans Zimmer brought in to help turn the Vikings pass defense around. After five years with the Carolina Panthers, Minnesota was able to convince Munnerlyn to sign with them in 2014.

Munnerlyn ended up spending a total of three seasons with the Vikings before departing back to the Panthers in 2017. He was a solid member of Minnesota’s defensive backfield during his time with the team, appearing in 47 games and starting in 30 of them.

Munnerlyn is currently 32-years-old and he hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since 2018. Some have assumed that his time in the league is over, but it seems like he could still be interested in suiting up for a team again.

On Wednesday, the Vikings posted their first injury report of the week on their Twitter account and it revealed that cornerbacks Cameron Dantzler and Mike Hughes missed the team’s practice due to injury. In the replies to Minnesota’s post, someone mentioned that Munnerlyn is currently a free agent and the former Vikings corner decided to respond.

It certainly appears as though Munnerlyn would be open to playing for his old team. But should Minnesota be interested in his services?

If the Vikings are looking to just add someone cheap who has experience, Munnerlyn could be their guy. Plus, he’s already played for Zimmer, so he should still be familiar with the team’s defensive scheme.

Despite Munnerlyn’s interest, Minnesota might look elsewhere for help due to the former cornerback’s recent arrest. Back in August, Munnerlyn was arrested on a fugitive warrant at the Miami International Airport for writing bad checks.

The corner’s attorney said that his arrest was a misunderstanding, but it wouldn’t be surprising if it was something that caused the Vikings to pass on the idea of bringing him back into their locker room.