The Vikings signed quarterback Jordan Ta'amu, who was recently named the XFL's Offensive Player of the Year, on Monday. He'll give the team an additional arm for the last week of the preseason.
Vikings sign former XFL quarterback Jordan Ta'amu ahead of final preseason game
Quarterback Jordan Ta'amu, the XFL's reigning Offensive Player of the Year, is the third former D.C. Defenders player on the Vikings roster.
August 21, 2023 at 11:00PM
Ta'amu, the former Mississippi quarterback who went undrafted in 2019, rejoins two former D.C. Defenders teammates, receiver Lucky Jackson and running back Abram Smith. He threw for 1,894 yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions in 10 games for the Defenders.
"I was chilling on my couch when I got the call," Ta'amu said after Monday's practice. "Super grateful for the opportunity that coach O'Connell gave me. Here to learn as much as I can in the week and hopefully get in the game on Saturday."
The Vikings waived outside linebacker Curtis Weaver as a corresponding move.
Fifth-round rookie quarterback Jaren Hall is going to "get a ton" of playing time against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday, Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said. Perhaps the Vikings will rest backup quarterback Nick Mullens and have Ta'amu as an emergency option in the exhibition finale.
"I spent more time in the playbook," Hall said after completing four of 7 passes for 49 yards against the Titans on Saturday. "I spent a lot of time watching film last week. You learn that it's not as valuable as knowing your plays. You have to know your plays first and foremost, so I spent a lot more time seeing our plays and visualizing, just a better combination of film and play [studying]."
Mike Conley was in Minneapolis, where he sounded the Gjallarhorn at the Vikings game, on Sunday during the robbery.
