Vikings Re-Sign Ameer Abdullah
Sean Borman
|
The Minnesota Vikings brought back one of their own on Monday. The team re-signed running back Ameer Abdullah to a one-year deal. Financial terms of the contract have not yet been released.
Abdullah (5-9, 203) was claimed off waivers by the Vikings last November after being released by the Detroit Lions. The 25 year-old received limited touches with Dalvin Cook, Latavius Murray and Mike Boone ahead of him on the depth chart. In seven games he hauled in one catch for 10 yards. As a kick returner he averaged 25.8 yards per attempt on 10 kick returns.
As a Lion, Abdullah started 22 games over four seasons. He rushed for 1,251 yards and six touchdowns while gaining 3.8 yards per carry. During that same time he caught 57 passes for 420 yards with three touchdowns.
Now, with Murray departing for New Orleans and practice squad running back Roc Thomas facing legal issues, more opportunities have been created for Abdullah to potentially make an impact out of the backfield. With Cook entrenched as the starter, Abdullah will have to compete with Boone and any other backs the Vikings acquire in the draft and undrafted free agency to determine the 2019 RB hierarchy.
It’s possible the team employs more of a running-back-by-committee approach under offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski, but considering the history of offensive advisor Gary Kubiak, the group scheme certainly seems to go against the grain.
Either way, between a potential jump in the depth chart as well as the chance to return kicks, it’s not hard to see while this was an attractive offer for Abdullah. He had nothing but good things to say about the organization on Monday.
“Every team, I learned, they lead themselves differently and I really respect how the Minnesota #Vikings lead the organization. It really made me feel like I was at home… You can tell winning is the only goal.”
-Ameer Abdullah, per https://t.co/t5carHtZbw
— Sean Borman (@SeanBormanNFL) March 18, 2019
Re-signing the Nebraska product may not have been the move Vikings fans were expecting, but by padding the depth at running back it would be reasonable to assume the next transaction will involve an offensive lineman. With this team, though, nothing is a lock.