Play-wrecking defender fighting his way onto the Vikings roster

In two preseason games, Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman T.Y. McGill has been proving to the coaching staff why he deserves a final roster spot.

Each preseason, there always seems to be a few players that end up as surprise standouts, and for the Minnesota Vikings this summer, one of these guys is veteran defensive lineman T.Y. McGill.

In the NFL since 2015, McGill has been a pass-rushing machine for Minnesota in their two exhibition games this year. In two preseason matchups, McGill has accumulated eight pressures and four sacks, both tops among all Vikings defenders this summer.

Before the preseason, many figured he was likely just a camp body that would end up as part of Minnesota’s final cuts in a few weeks. But after the Vikings’ last two exhibition contests, McGill has a very legitimate shot at earning a spot on the team’s regular-season roster this year.

Before landing with the Minnesota Vikings, T.Y. McGill spent time around the NFL with several teams

For Minnesota fans, McGill isn’t someone that many are familiar with. It would probably surprise a lot of people to learn that this is his eighth year in the league.

Before signing with the Vikings this offseason, McGill had stints with multiple teams around the NFL, including the Seattle Seahawks, Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, and New Orleans Saints.

He’s appeared in a total of 46 games in his pro career, but he’s never started a single contest. So it’s actually pretty impressive that McGill has managed to continue getting signed for as long as he has.

He might have found a good fit with Minnesota though. The journeyman defender has been very impressive this preseason and behind Harrison Phillips, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Armon Watts, the Vikings don’t have a ton of defensive line depth. So there is definitely room for McGill if Minnesota wants to keep him around for the regular season.

Based on his performance during the last two weeks, the Vikings would probably be pretty foolish not to keep him on their final roster.