Vikings Cut Veteran Days After He Punched $88 Million Star

In the fourth and final year of his rookie deal, Minnesota Vikings linebacker Brian Asamoah was seemingly secure with a special teams role with the team.

However, the Vikings abruptly released him on Tuesday, August 12, just days after he threw a punch at newly signed guard Will Fries, who inked a five-year, $88 million deal with the team in March.

The Vikings have a zero-tolerance policy for fighting.

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Asamoah, a 2022 third-round pick, was one of just three members of that draft class left in the Vikings organization. The first class selected by general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the Vikings have seen little return from the group outside of Jalen Nailor and Ty Chandler.

Asamoah played in the preseason opener, and it’s a head-scratcher why he would be released this quickly if he still had room to compete for a roster spot. Joint practices with the New England Patriots, which Kevin O’Connell has emphasized as the biggest piece of his evaluation, begin tomorrow, August 13.

If the move was predetermined after his dust-up with Fries, offering Asamoah a chance to play and showcase himself in the preseason opener would be a meaningful parting gift for his prospects to be signed elsewhere.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Vikings were close to trading Asamoah at the deadline last year — meaning he had trade value, but the team instead decided to part ways with him before final cutdown day.

“Could be effective in a new scheme,” Fowler added.

https://x.com/JFowlerESPN/status/1955366518168096909

Vikings Save $1.5 Million By Waiving Asamoah Amid Rondale Moore IR Designation

Following the money trail of Asamoah’s departure, the Vikings will save $1.45 million in cap space, per Minnesota Star Tribune beat reporter Ben Goessling.

That’s significant cap space comparable to a veteran minimum deal, which could signal a move in the coming days.

Along with Asamoah’s waiver, the Vikings placed wide receiver Rondale Moore on season-ending injured reserve and waived Zeke Correll with an injury designation.

There’s a chance Correll clears waivers and is picked up, but regardless, there are open roster spots available and a void at wide receiver.

Vikings on the Verge of Signing Veteran WR?

The Vikings are looking thin at wide receiver to start the season with Jordan Addison serving a three-game suspension to begin the year.

Lucky Jackson has flashed in training camp, and Nailor has filled in at times for Addison.

However, the Vikings would be wise to give J.J. McCarthy all the help he can get as he comes along in his first season as a starter. McCarthy is bound to have a few rookie moments early in the season, and adding help at receiver could help prevent any hiccups along the way.

Adam Thielen has surfaced as a potential option, but would require the Carolina Panthers to be willing to trade him.

Brandon Powell, who played the past two seasons for the Vikings and is familiar with O’Connell’s system, would be a more fitting reunion that wouldn’t cost the Vikings any draft capital.

The prized free-agent receiver at this stage of the NFL season is Amari Cooper, who could slot in as the No. 2 receiver opposite Justin Jefferson and fall back into a rotational role afterward.