Ex-Vikings Pass Rusher Signs with Browns
Minnesota Vikings fans will remember him because of his sweet name, and the man is now a member of the Cleveland Browns.
Ex-Vikings Pass Rusher Signs with Browns
He’s Luiji Vilain, and he reportedly signed on Cleveland’s dotted line Wednesday.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz tweeted, “Former Vikings LB Luiji Vilain is signing with the Browns practice squad, per source. The 6-4, 252-pound Vilain starred at Michigan and Wake Forest as a collegian.”
The Browns did not look impressive in Week 1, smoked by the Dallas Cowboys 33-17 at home. Now, with the Vilain addition, the club will have a bit of pass-rushing depth if injuries continue to emerge.
These are the Browns’ EDGE rushers following the Vilain addition:
- Myles Garrett
- Za’Darius Smith
- Alex Wright
- Ogbo Okoronkwo
- Isaiah McGuire
- Luiji Vilain (Practice Squad)
Vilain is now just one call-up away from the Browns’ active roster.
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah found Vilain via undrafted free agency in 2022, the keynote UDFA addition of the cycle. The young defender even made the 2022 53-man roster, a surprising development as many had him pegged for the practice squad that season. Last summer, however, Vilain did not make the active roster, instead plopped on the practice squad.
Then, in October, the Carolina Panthers swiped Vilain from the Vikings’ practice squad, and he remained attached to Carolina until roster trimdowns two weeks ago. He was on the outside looking in and did not receive a practice squad invitation.
To date, Vilain has logged 34 career defensive snaps with the Vikings and Panthers, banking 4 tackles along the way. Vilain was marvelous at Wake Forest in 2021, tallying 8 sacks and 9 tackles for loss in 12 games. Before that, he was recruited by and played at Michigan.
When Vilain joined the NFL in 2022, some scouts were ultra-high on his upside. Consultant Nate O’Neal was particularly high on Vilain. He said 2.5 years ago: “His potential is out of this world. He definitely has a crazy high ceiling. … The Vikings got a good one … He’s going to play for a long time in the NFL, and he’s going to do that at a high level.”
Cleveland’s defense ranks 11th per EPA/Play entering Week 2, even after the team, as a whole, showcased a dreadful outing against the Cowboys.
The Browns also employ former Vikings Hakeem Adeniji (OT, IR), Jordan Hicks (LB), Za’Darius Smith (DE), and Dalvin Tomlinson (DT),
Vilain turned 26 in March.
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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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