Cowboys Sign Ex-Vikings Defender
Roster maintenance is still hot and heavy in the NFL, with the preseason underway and the regular reason less than four weeks away.
Cowboys Sign Ex-Vikings Defender
Accordingly, the Dallas Cowboys added a linebacker this week familiar to Minnesota Vikings fans — Nick Vigil.
Star Telegram‘s Clarence Hill Jr. tweeted Tuesday, “The Cowboys have signed LB Nick Vigil, LB Darius Harris and DT Albert Huggins, sources confirmed.”
It’s a reunion of sorts for Vigil, who played with Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer in Minnesota during the 2021 season. Vigil began his career with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2016, where Zimmer worked before joining Minnesota as a head coach in 2014.
In Dallas, Vigil will battle for a roster spot against these off-ball linebackers:
- Damone Clark
- Eric Kendricks
- DeMarvion Overshown
- Willie Harvey
- Damien Wilson
- Marist Liufau
- Buddy Johnson
- Darius Harris
- Jason Johnson
- Brock Mogensen
The New York Jets onboarded Vigil for a summer look in August 2023 but cut ties shortly after. It didn’t take long for Vigil to find employment — he rejoined the Vikings last year for the regular season.
Before the 2023 campaign, Vigil played for the Arizona Cardinals, albeit for four games and 84 defensive snaps in 2022. He played for the Vikings in 2021, his first stint with the club. During that time, Vigil peaked immediately, returning an interception for a touchdown at the Cardinals in Week 2. Vigil felt like a mighty offseason addition late that afternoon, and indeed, he was just that — for a while.
Soon after in 2021, Vigil’s performance tumbled, not quite keeping pace with his Week 1 and 2 theatrics. Overall, Vigil finished the 2021 season with a 42.1 grade from Pro Football Focus, the 13th-worst in the NFL among 87 qualifying linebackers. In particular, Vigil struggled with run defense, tallying a measly 30.8 score from PFF.
For the Cardinals in 2022, in the limited playing time, Vigil tabulated a terrible 28.3 PFF grade before encountering a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
This is Vigil’s destination resume to date:
- Cincinnati Bengals (2016–2019)
- Los Angeles Chargers (2020)
- Minnesota Vikings (2021)
- Arizona Cardinals (2022)
- New York Jets (2023)
- Minnesota Vikings (2023)
- Dallas Cowboys (2024)
Vigil should be considered a longshot to make Dallas’ 53-man roster in 18 days, probably eyeing a practice squad assignment if he isn’t released.
He will turn 31 in a week and a half.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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