Dec 4, 2022; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; General view of a New York Giants helmet prior to the game against the Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports.
Back in 2021, Armon Watts started for the Minnesota Vikings.
Now, the veteran defensive tackle will try the New York Giants’ practice squad on for size. And somewhat ironically for Vikings fans, the Giants released former Vikings cornerback Duke Shelley to make room for Watts.
Fansided‘s Doug Rush tweeted Tuesday, “The Giants today signed veteran DT Armon Watts to their practice squad. To make room, the Giants released CB Duke Shelley from the practice squad. Watts is a former 6th round pick of the Vikings back in the 2019 NFL Draft.”
Watts will join this DT corps in New York:
The ex-Viking will now be one call-up away from the gameday roster and can be elevated thrice in the remainder of the regular season. Here’s Watts’ NFL resume to date:
The Patriots dropped Watts two weeks ago.
The new Giant played all 17 games for the 2021 Vikings, Mike Zimmer’s final year in charge. He started nine of those contests and seemed on track to start once again in 2022 under head coach Kevin O’Connell. But the Vikings had different plans, releasing Watts before the final 53-man roster trimdown. His exit was one of the most surprising of the 2022 summer.
The Arkansas alumnus immediately trekked to Chicago and again played 17 games while starting 12 in 2022. However, the Bears evidently weren’t enthused by his 49.2 Pro Football Focus grade and didn’t re-sign him.
So, Watts hit the road again in 2023, latching on with the Steelers and playing 273 defensive snaps while logging 15 tackles and 3 tackles for loss. Like in 2022 with the Bears, Pittsburgh did not re-up Watts’ deal and he landed with the Patriots a few months later.
All told in his career since 2019, Watts has logged 140 total tackles in 72 games (starting 22), with 18 quarterback hits, 8.5 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, and 3 forced fumbles. He played about half of all defensive snaps in Pittsburgh as recently as last year.
New York hosts the rival Philadelphia Eagles this week and is forecasted by oddsmakers to lose by three points. The Giants, a 2-4 club, have a 6% chance of reaching the postseason, per DVOA.
Watts’ new team employs four other former Vikings: Greg Joseph (K), Austin Schlottmann (C, IR), Ihmir Smith-Marsette (WR), and Benton Whitley (OLB, PS).
Watts turned 28 in July.
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 MIN 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.