Minnesota Vikings re-sign Everson Griffen one day after release

The Minnesota Vikings have re-signed defensive end Everson Griffen, just one day after releasing him, and a little over a week after originally signing him, per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network.

“The Vikings re-signed DE Everson Griffen, per source,” Pelissero said. “They needed the roster spot for a day to make other moves, but as expected, Griffen’s back.”

Everson Griffen originally signed with the Vikings on Aug. 23 after Griffen spent last season in Dallas and Detroit.

Last year, Griffen recorded six sacks in 14 total games with the Cowboys and Lions. 

Everson Griffen’s release was a procedural move in order to make other moves but after tight end Irv Smith Jr., running back Kene Nwangwu and wide receiver Dan Chisena were all placed on the injured reserve list, Griffen was re-signed.

In his 10-year Minnesota career, Everson Griffen recorded 74.5 sacks, 355 tackles, 190 quarterback hits and nine forced fumbles.

In his career, Griffen has made four Pro Bowls and received second-team All-Pro honors in 2017. 

In his return, Everson Griffen projects to provide valuable depth for the Vikings on a defensive line that features Danielle Hunter, Patrick Jones II, Michael Pierce, Sheldon Richardson and Dalvin Tomlinson. Hunter and Pierce return for the 2021 season after missing all of last year.

Everson Griffen entered the league in 2010 after three seasons at USC. In his three years, Griffen had 84 tackles, 18 sacks, 21 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles. 

Vikings season preview

Minnesota enters the season looking to bounce back after going 7-9, finishing third in the NFC North. The Vikings went below .500 for the first time since 2014. All wasn’t negative for the Vikings last season, as wide receiver Justin Jefferson burst on the scene with a historic rookie year.

The LSU product set the record for most receiving yards by a rookie in the Super Bowl era with 1,400 yards in 16 games. Jefferson scored seven touchdowns, and averaged 15.9 yards per catch.

The Vikings offense will be led by quarterback Kirk Cousins once again, who will be surrounded with formidable weapons, from the aforementioned Jefferson to wide receiver Adam Thielen and running back Dalvin Cook. Minnesota’s offense took a hit with the loss of tight end Irv Smith Jr, who went down with a meniscus injury that sidelines him for the foreseeable future, potentially the entire season.

Defensively, the return of Danielle Hunter, Michael Pierce and Everson Griffen will vastly improve the Vikings’ front. Elsewhere on the defense, star linebackers Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr return after both missed time in the 2020 season. In the secondary, the Vikings added Patrick Peterson to the cornerback room. Now 31, Peterson isn’t the athlete he once was at his peak, but will be an upgrade in a secondary that desperately needs cornerback help. At safety the loss of Anthony Harris to the Eagles hurts, but star Harrison Smith returns, with a new four-year extension.

The Vikings open the season on Sunday, Sept. 12 against the Cincinnati Bengals.