Vikings add a former starter to their 2023 practice squad
By Adam Patrick
After a season away, veteran linebacker Nick Vigil is a member of the Minnesota Vikings once again, as the team announced on Thursday that he and three others have been signed to their 2023 practice squad.
In addition to Vigil, the Vikings also signed offensive guard Henry Byrd, offensive tackle Hakeem Adeniji, and offensive guard Tyrese Robinson to their practice squad on Thursday. Minnesota now has 16 players on their 2023 practice squad.
Vigil became available after he was released by the New York Jets earlier this week. The veteran linebacker signed with the Jets at the beginning of August, but the team clearly wanted to go in a different direction for the regular season.
So now Vigil returns to the Vikings, a team that he started 12 games for back in 2021. In 16 total appearances for Minnesota during the 2021 season, the 30-year-old linebacker accumulated 85 tackles (four for a loss), seven pressures, one sack, one pass breakup, and one interception.
The highlight of Vigil's previous tenure with the Vikings happened during a Week 2 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals in 2021 when he picked off a pass thrown by quarterback Kyler Murray and returned it 38 yards the other way for a touchdown.
Following his lone season with Minnesota, Vigil went on to sign with the Cardinals during the 2022 offseason. Unfortunately, he only appeared in four games for Arizona last year due to a hamstring injury.
Vigil's time in the NFL appears to be getting closer to the end, but given his experience, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Vikings activate him for a few games in 2023 to help improve their depth at linebacker and special teams.