Sometimes, the timing is just right for a reunion.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Minnesota Vikings are signing linebacker Anthony Barr to the practice squad. Barr spent eight seasons with the Vikings before spending 2022 with the Dallas Cowboys.
This is a reunion of potentially epic proportions. Well, that might be slight hyperbole, but it’s both an intriguing signing while also being cool for the fanbase.
The Vikings made Barr the ninth overall draft pick in 2014, the first of the Mike Zimmer era. He was initially thought to be an edge rusher, but Zimmer had different ideas for Barr, making him a menacing linebacker by using his excellent size and athleticism in space.
In Brian Flores’ defense, Barr could be an interesting weapon. Ivan Pace Jr. is a unique inside linebacker being a great blitzer and using his body as a weapon. Barr’s strength at this point is going to be patrolling the second level and being deployed on a blitz.
They are bringing in Barr in lieu of the Jordan Hicks injury. It may just be a week or two for Hicks, but they don’t trust the depth that they have in Brian Asamoah II, Troy Dye and Nick Vigil.
The simulated A-gap pressures may very well be back in vogue for the Vikings’ defense.
