Jaguars Steal Vikings Defender
Safety Kahlef Hailassie, a safety who stood off the page for the Minnesota Vikings during the preseason, is no longer employed by the purple team.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have pilfered a Vikings player from the practice squad, and the man will try on a change of scenery.
Needing safety depth after releasing Darnell Savage this week, the Jaguars chose Minnesota’s practice squad as the object of its eye, stealing Hailassie from Brian Flores’ defense.
Hailassie is a Jaguar.
Jags Pilfer Vikings Safety from PS
All’s fair in love and war.
Jaguars Pry Safety Kahlef Hailassie from Vikings Practice Squad
Any player anywhere on an NFL team’s practice squad can be stolen on any day, and the Vikings were not immune this week with Hailassie.
Jaguars.com broke the news: “The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed S Kahlef Hailassie, the team announced today. Hailassie was most recently on the Minnesota Vikings practice squad. He joined the Vikings this offseason after spending his first two NFL seasons with the Cleveland Browns (2023-24).
“With Cleveland, Hailassie played in 10 games (one start) and recorded six tackles (one for loss) and one pass defensed as well as two special teams tackles. He originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with Kansas City in May of 2023 and spent the offseason with the Chiefs before being waived and joining the Browns.”
Hailassie is now on tap to live on Jacksonville’s 53-man roster, the stipulation when stealing a practice squader.
Minnesota gets nothing in return other than a vacant practice squad spot, which it will likely fill in the coming days.
Vikings Safeties without Hailassie
Thankfully, Hailassie was not a prominent contributor in Flores’ defense. But he would have been a “next man up” if something happened injury-wise to Harrison Smith, Josh Metellus, Theo Jackson, or Jay Ward.
Minnesota will continue to roll with that foursome at safety sans Hailassie and also has veteran defensive back Tavierre Thomas on the 53-man roster, along with another vet, K’Von Wallace, on the practice squad.
Aside from an injury to Smith, the Vikings are not hurting at safety. They’ve got plenty.
The Jaguars’ New Safety Group
What kind of group will Hailassie join? Here’s the safety personnel in Jacksonville after the Hailassie PS theft:
- Andrew Wingard
- Eric Murray
- Antonio Johnson
- Rayuan Lane III
- Kahlef Hailassie
- Cam’Ron Simon-Craig (PS)
- Caleb Ransaw (IR)
In broad NFL speak, that safety room is pretty damn anonymous, meaning Hailassie may actually get some regular-season playing time. Savage’s unexpected release opened the door for others to see the field, and that could be Hailassie.
The Skinny on Hailassie
Hailassie hasn’t quite seen action in Minnesota through two games, but he’s played 10 NFL games in his young career — all with the Cleveland Browns in 2023 and 2024.
Minnesota signed Hailassie back in January to a futures contract, staying attached to the roster for eight months before failing to make the 53-man roster in August. Head coach Kevin O’Connell promptly added Hailassie to the 2025 practice squad, though, only to see Jacksonville nab him this week.
Hailassie notably intercepted two passes during Minnesota’s first preseason game last month. He’s 6’2″, 195 pounds, and has played 105 defensive snaps in the regular season in his career.
Jaguars-Themed Media on Hailassie
Jaguars Wire‘s Paul Bretl sized up the Hailassie pilfer: “One day after releasing veteran safety Darnell Savage, the Jacksonville Jaguars have filled that roster spot by signing defensive back Kahlef Hailassie to the 53-man roster.”
“Hailassie went undrafted in 2023 and has spent time with Kansas City, Cleveland, and was most recently on the Minnesota practice squad. In his NFL career, Hailassie has played 104 defensive snaps, all of which came as a rookie with the Browns in 2023. Jacksonville listed Hailassie as a safety, but during his college career at Western Kentucky and in his brief NFL experience, he’s played mostly outside cornerback, which provides the Jaguars some added versatility.”
Jacksonville’s defense ranks seventh in the NFL per EPA/Play through two weeks.
“Andrew Wingard and Eric Murray are the starters at safety, but under Anthony Campanile, the Jaguars have deployed quite a few three-safety looks in these first two games. This was a role that was filled by Savage, who saw 48 defensive snaps between Weeks 1 and 2. Presumably, Antonio Johnson will now step into that role. He, along with Savage and Wingard, was competing this summer for the starting role next to Murray,” Bretl added.
“He’s also more experienced than Rayuan Lane and obviously knows the defensive scheme better than Hailassie. So, at least early on, Hailassie’s role will likely be to bolster the depth at this position and potentially help out on special teams — a role Lane has filled as well.”
Hailassie could see playing time as early as this weekend against the Houston Texans.
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