Oct 2, 2022; London, United Kingdom; Minnesota Vikings running back Kene Nwangwu (26) during the NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports.
The Minnesota Vikings controversially waived running back Kene Nwangwu on Tuesday, leading to a waiver wire addition by the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday.
But the move was only in spirit.
Nwangwu will not play for the Saints, at least not anytime soon, as the former Vikings speedster failed his physical. ESPN’s Katherine Terrell tweeted Thursday, “The Saints waived KR Kene Nwangwu with a failed physical designation. That’s a surprise.”
Details on the failed physical were not readily available.
The ex-Viking is now free to sign anywhere in the NFL, though the failed physical might prolong the process. When Minnesota cut ties with Nwangwu, it had grand plans for RB3 Myles Gaskin, who was announced as the team’s new kick returner on Thursday. Nwangwu did not leave the Vikings with an injury designation.
Nwangwu’s role with the Vikings was minimized last year when players and teams were allowed to take the football at the 25-yardline on kick-offs, no matter what, with a fair catch signal. Fast forward to 2024, and Nwangwu was the odd man out for Minnesota, even with revised kick-return rules.
One of the speediest players in the NFL, Vikings faithful longed for Nwangwu’s inclusion in the team’s offense for the last two years because of his speed, but the wish was not granted. The Iowa State alumnus touched the ball 33 times on offense for 118 yards from scrimmage in his career, not exactly a productive resume for a player with three seasons in the books.
Minnesota scooped Nwangwu out of the 4th Round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and he’s returned three kickoffs for touchdowns in three years. His kick return touchdown on Thanksgiving night versus the New England Patriots in 2022 was a game-saver for Minnesota. The Vikings forced no turnovers against Bill Belichick’s team, curiously couldn’t stop quarterback Mac Jones, leaving Nwangwu’s heroics as the hinge that swung the game.
Without Nwangwu, New Orleans will feature this RB room in 2024:
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell mentioned that Nwangwu’s exit was about Gaskin’s emergence on offense and special teams. O’Connell noted on the NFL’s new kickoff return rule: “Everybody is still determining what this new kickoff return format will be. It’s going to be a work in progress regarding the opportunities you do and don’t get.”
Eventually, another general manager will try Nwangwu on for size, and a team like the Miami Dolphins or Dallas Cowboys would make sense.
Nwangwu is 26.
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.