Journeyman Ex-Viking Lands with 7th NFL Team
If you turn back on the clock on the Minnesota Vikings’ defense, ardent fans might remember the name of linebacker Blake Lynch.
A former Vikings linebacker has signed with his seventh NFL team, continuing a well-traveled career that spans multiple franchises and seasons. The latest.
Since departing the purple team after the 2021 campaign, Lynch has shapeshifted into a total journeyman, and his resume became more expansive this week, landing with the Tennessee Titans.
Lynch is a Titan, at least for the next couple of weeks.
Titans Sign Former Vikings LB
Lynch continues his wayward NFL journey.
LB Blake Lynch to the Titans
Evidently needing inside linebacking depth, Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi signed Lynch this week.
NBC Sports‘ Josh Alper announced the moves, “The Titans shuffled their linebacker corps on Tuesday morning. They announced the signings of Khaleke Hudson and Blake Lynch. They waived linebackers David Gbenda and Anfernee Orji to make room on the 90-man roster. Orji’s departure comes with an injury designation.”
Lynch will now vie for a roster spot, which will be determined on August 26th.
The Titans’ ILB Group
With two preseason games left — one against the Vikings — Titans head coach Brian Callahan has these off-ball linebackers at his disposal:
- Cody Barton
- James Williams Sr.
- Cedric Gray
- Oluwafemi Oladejo
- Jaylen Harrell
- Curtis Jacobs
- Khaleke Hudson
- Blake Lynch
Tennessee will likely keep four of five of those players on the September roster, so Lynch must fight like hell to claw his way up the depth chart.
Lynch’s Time with the Vikings
Minnesota pulled Lynch off the undrafted free-agent wire in 2020, and he promptly gained some staying power in Mike Zimmer’s scheme.
He played 20 games in purple and gold, with 7 starts, and most notably saw action in 16 games during the 2021 campaign. Zimmer used the 6’3″ 225-pounder mainly on special teams during his stay in the Twin Cities.
When Kevin O’Connell arrived in 2022, Lynch was not a priority to re-sign. He then began his ricochet around the business, with this current resume:
- Minnesota Vikings (2020–2021)
- Arizona Cardinals (2022–2023)
- Los Angeles Chargers (2023)
- Seattle Seahawks (2024)
- Los Angeles Chargers (2024)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2024)
- Kansas City Chiefs (2024)
- Tennessee Titans (2025–now)
Lynch has banked 57 total tackles in his career and 2 sacks.
Realistic 2025 Outlook
While anything is possible due to injuries and whatnot, Lynch is probably facing a roster cut on August 26th.
His upside could be a practice squad assignment, at which time he’d be one injury or call-up away from regular season duty. He played 47 total snaps in 2024, a tiny sum.
More on Lynch from SI
SI.com‘s Jared Koch opined on the Titans’ linebacker moves, “The Titans’ linebacker core currently holds the likes of Cody Barton and James Williams Sr. at the top, while also having a solid young piece in second-round pick Oluwafemi Oladejo in the fold for the foreseeable future. Now, both Hudson and Lynch will try and find their way to a depth spot in said unit before Week One’s kickoff is underway.”
“As for Lynch, he’s a four-year league vet who started his career in 2020 as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings. He’d spend his first two years pro there before he would see his time end in 2022, and wouldn’t suit up for a regular season game again until 2023 with the Los Angeles Chargers.”
Lynch turned 28 this offseason.
“Last season, he split time between LA and the Kansas City Chiefs, and now navigates his way to Tennessee. Lynch has played in 29 total games across his career, logging 57 combined tackles, two tackles for loss, three passes defended and two forced turnovers,” Koch added.
The Vikings play Lynch and his Titans in the preseason in nine days.
You must be logged in to post a comment.