Vikings Defense Gets Reinforcement
The Minnesota Vikings revealed a teensy Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list about a week ago featuring just two names: tight end Gavin Bartholomew and outside linebacker Chaz Chambliss.
The Vikings welcomed linebacker Chaz Chambliss back to camp on July 28th after activating him from the PUP list. His return adds depth to a developing defensive unit just before the preseason.
The list shrank to one Monday, as Minnesota activated Chambliss, making his PUP stint short and sweet.
Chambliss will make his training camp debut this week.
The PUP List No More for Chaz Chambliss
The undrafted Vikings rookie will now make his push for a spot on the September roster.
Rookie OLB Chaz Chambliss Back for Vikings
The Vikings’ main social media account tweeted to start the week, “OLB Chaz Chambliss has been activated from active/PUP and will return to practice today.”
Chambliss had dealt with a foot injury, and truth be told, fans didn’t know if it would linger. It did not, and Chambliss is back.
Coming out of Georgia this draft cycle, Chambliss was the lesser-known or “other” EDGE rusher, alongside Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams, who both received 1st-Round treatment. Chambliss fell all the way to undrafted free agency.
A Longshot Bid at the 53-Man Roster
Now, Chambliss begins his trek to make the regular season roster, which won’t be easy.
Thankfully for his sake, the Vikings did not re-sign Patrick Jones II this offseason. He landed with the Carolina Panthers in March. The team also said “no thanks” to a reunion with Jihad Ward, who signed with the Tennessee Titans last week.
Those players’ exits from the roster create a spot for a fourth outside linebacker, and Chambliss will battle for that job at training camp and in the preseason. He could also earn a spot as the OLB5 or OLB6, depending on how many EDGE defenders Brian Flores keeps on his active roster.
Vikings’ OLB Room
With Chambliss back in Eagan, these are Minnesota’s OLBs:
- Jonathan Greenard
- Andrew Van Ginkel
- Dallas Turner
- Bo Richter
- Gabriel Murphy
- Tyler Batty
- Chaz Chambliss
An easy way to think of it? Chambliss basically has to fight not to be the single odd man out. Otherwise, he’s a prime practice squad candidate.
Gavin Bartholomew Next?
The timetable on Bartholomew is less clear. Minnesota actually used a draft pick on him, unlike Chambliss, onboarding the Pittsburgh tight end in Round 6 in late April.
Our Kyle Joudry wrote about Bartholomew last week, “Ongoing injury issues shouldn’t be understood as being the end of the road for Gavin Bartholomew. The final chapter in his story hasn’t been written, a truth that remains no matter how things go in the coming days and weeks. Let’s hope and assume, though, that the tight end comes back sooner rather than later. What will Minnesota be getting?”
“Bartholomew, 22, is listed as being 6’5″ and weighing 246 pounds. Not quite Josh Oliver, but a pretty standard build for a tight end. He played four seasons of college ball for Pittsburgh, seemingly tasked with playing different roles.”
It’s also worth noting that Bartholomew has a back injury. Never fun. Not a foot like Chambliss.
Chambliss’ Scouting Report
NFL.com‘s Lance Zierlein identified Chambliss as a 6th- or 7th-Round draft pick earlier in the offseason and noted on his scouting report: “Two-year starter who has played with and against some of the best competition. Chambliss is an undersized 3-4 outside linebacker and he’s very strong for his size.”
“He plays the game with a relentless forward charge but will run into some road blocks due to his lack of size and length. He flashes rush moves on occasion but he isn’t much of an edge-turner and is more likely to pressure the pocket with secondary effort. Chambliss has the mental and physical makeup to stick around as a solid backup and plus special-teams performer.”
Bleacher Report‘s Matt Holder on Chambliss: “Chaz Chambliss projects as an undrafted free agent who has a chance to make an NFL roster as a backup edge defender and a special teams contributor. He’s a high-motor player who has good moments in both phases of the game, but he lacks the ideal size and traits to be a difference-maker in the NFL.”
Chambliss was a four-star recruit in 2021 coming out of high school at Carrollton High School in Georgia.
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