There’s a New Guy on the Vikings, and He’s a Local.
The Minnesota Vikings added a new face to the practice squad on Wednesday, signing linebacker Chris Garrett to the team.
Garrett, a Super Bowl champion, played at Concordia University in St. Paul from 2017 to 2020.
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In college, the new Viking registered 166 combined tackles, 36.5 sacks, 15 forced fumbles, 9 passes defended, and 4 fumble recoveries. The Los Angeles Rams found Garrett in the 7th Round of the 2021 NFL Draft, nine picks away from “Mr. Irrevelant” designation. Coincidentally, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell worked for those same Rams last year, so the connection was likely forged that way.
Garrett played in one regular season game last year, seeing 10 snaps on defense and special teams in Week 3 of the 2021 season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But he remained on the 53-man depth chart for most of the season.
His 15 career forced fumbles at Concordia set an NCAA Divison II record, while his 1.3 sacks per game rank third in Division II history.
The 6’4″, 245-pounder is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and played high school football at Wisconsin Lutheran, where Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Kevin Zeitler also attended. The Vikings have one other linebacker on the practice squad, William Kwenkeu, who received playing time during the 2022 preseason.
On Tuesday, the Philadelphia Eagles, who play the Vikings on Monday night, signed EDGE rusher Janarius Robinson off Minnesota’s practice squad. That opened up a spot on the practice squad, and O’Connell reportedly didn’t even need to try out Garrett because of the 2021 Rams familiarity.
The Eagles host the Vikings on Monday Night Football, a battle of 1-0 teams. Garrett is not expected to play unless something funky happens to the Vikings active linebackers.
Garrett is 24 years old.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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