Fan-Favorite Viking Leaves Team
Say it ain’t so.
Fan-Favorite Viking Leaves Team
The Minnesota Vikings are evidently cutting ties with special teams savant NaJee Thompson, an undrafted free-agent find from the 2023 class, the same bunch that connected linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. to the Vikings’ roster.
Thompson tweeted a farewell — out of nowhere — on Tuesday evening.
NaJee Thompson Says Goodbye
Thompson used the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, to say goodbye to Vikings fans, who previously believed he was on track to regain his special teams post this summer. No such luck.
The 24-year-old tweeted: “💜Forever love to the organization, Unfortunately my time here is done, our paths may cross again never count anything out but injuries happen and ⚡️ I’ll be back on the field soon! To the state of Minnesota thank you for all Support and gratitude much love💜Skol.”
Fans checked the Twitter profile to ensure it wasn’t a troll job — it’s that much of a surprise — and found that Thompson indeed tweeted the sayonara.
Matt Falk of the Onebar & Lupagus Show added a parting note representing fans’ sentiments: “Fan favorite and great pal to the show. Hope to see him in purple again, will be rooting for ⚡️⚡️⚡️ Where ever he lands. SKOL”
An Unexpected Tweet
Until Tuesday, most onlookers believed that Thompson’s recovery from a knee injury last year was proceeding swimmingly. He had posted footage to social media in the last couple of months to indicate a return in 2025.
But when the tweet arrived, Thompson made it rather clear that a departure from the Twin Cities was inevitable. Some even wondered if the post could be a delayed April Fool’s joke, a longshot to grasp at straws.
Thompson’s Tenure in Minnesota
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah welcomed Thompson right after the 2023 NFL Draft, and the youngster quickly used Twitter to vow an active roster spot.
He made good on the promise.
The Georgia Southern alumnus didn’t see much time at cornerback, even flirting with a position switch to safety last summer before his season-ending injury, but fully secured a special teams slot on the 2023 roster. He was such a commodity that he made a name for himself as a fan-favorite special teamer, which is tricky to pull off.
Vikings.com’s Craig Peters wrote last July about his trip to the injury list: “The Vikings on Monday announced that tight end T.J. Hockenson and defensive back NaJee Thompson have been placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list ahead of 2024 Vikings Training Camp. Additionally, Minnesota placed running back DeWayne McBride on the Non-Football Injury list.”
That turned out to be a precursor to the end for Thompson with the Vikings.
PurplePTSD.com‘s Janik Eckart wrote about Thompson’s contributions to the Vikings: “In his rookie season, he logged only one snap on defense and 195 on special teams through 15 games. His defensive position only exists on paper, and he is unlikely to be more than an emergency player in Brian Flores’s defense. Still, his ability to change the game on special teams is unparalleled. Thompson will now meet with the safeties and participate in drills with the safeties, although many of those are similar.”
“The undrafted rookie signed as a cornerback, but not many gave him a chance to make the team, especially because he barely played on defense at Georgia Southern. He started his college career in 2018 as a wide receiver and moved to the defensive side of the ball in 2021.”
Vikings special teams coach Matt Daniels said about Thompson in August 2023: “I’ve been watching this player for quite some time now and he lives and breathes special teams, that’s who he is at the core, and for him to finally be able to carry it over from what I saw on tape from the collegiate level to putting it on display on Thursday night only solidifies who he is as a person – the bright lights aren’t too big for him.”
Injury Recovery Might’ve Broke Bad
The only explanation for his abrupt exit from Minnesota’s roster orbit is injury.
The Vikings coaching staff adores Thompson, so his injury recovery must’ve encountered a grave hiccup. It’s the only thing that makes sense. Minnesota will actually expand its roster to 90 players in the next week; it has no urgent requirement to cut a player like Thompson.
Strange days.
Don’t Rule Out Eventual Reunion
Perhaps, in time, Thompson will heal and return to the Twin Cities. That happens — reunion contracts — and Thompson seems like he’d be at the top of the list for an opportunity.
Hopefully the separation is brief.
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