Jaylen Twyman’s Minnesota Vikings career might be over before it ever really began.
The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Monday morning that the Pitt product has been cut by the NFC North team in favor of wide receiver DeDe Westbrook as Twyman continues to heal from four gunshot wounds sustained in an incident last month.
To make room for newly signed WR DeDe Westbook, the #Vikings announced they waived sixth-round draft pick Jaylen Twyman because of a non-football injury. He was recently shot 4 times (story here: https://t.co/uoJjedgoVz)
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 26, 2021
Twyman is expected to make a full recovery and had reported to Vikings camp over the weekend despite his injuries. In fact, ESPN reported Sunday that two of his wounds had completely healed and that he was planning to return to action early this season.
The Vikings selected Twyman with the 199th overall pick in the sixth round of the draft back in May following a standout career at Pitt. He recorded 10 1/2 sacks in his breakout season back in 2019 before sitting out 2020 amid the pandemic.
The good news for Twyman is he likely will be back. ESPN’s Courtney Cronin reported that the move is “procedural” as they find a way to stash him on the roster.
It’s procedural. If he clears waivers he reverts back to Minnesota and be out a minimum of 6 games. https://t.co/4CLe5cnTGw
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) July 26, 2021
The shooting took place in late June in Twyman’s native Washington, D.C., leaving him with injuries to his arm, leg, buttocks and shoulder.
Adam Bittner: abittner@post-gazette.com and Twitter @fugimaster24.
First Published: July 26, 2021, 2:29 p.m.