Kene Nwangwu - Page 6 - NFL News, Rumors, & Updates

Getting more reps this summer Nwangwu has taken more reps in training camp than in years past, but he's still a clear third on the depth chart at running back, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

Impact The veteran running back appeared in just nine games last season, dealing with a back injury that landed him on injured reserve early in the 2023 campaign. He had just five carries for 13 yards on offense. He's an impact kick return when healthy, however. While he's not likely to get many carries behind Aaron Jones and Ty Chandler, it sounds like he could be next in line should there be an injury.

AUGUST 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Healthy scratch Sunday Nwangwu (coach's decision) is inactive Sunday against the Falcons.

Impact Nwangwu was absent from Week 8 due to an illness, but he didn't appear on the team's injury report this week. The Iowa State product's next chance to suit up will be in Week 10 against the Saints.

NOVEMBER 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Avoids injury report Wednesday Nwangwu (illness) was not listed on the Vikings' injury report Wednesday.

Impact Nwangwu was ruled out of Sunday's contest against the Packers with an illness but seems to be on track to return in Week 9 against the Falcons. Nwangwu made his 2023 debut in Week 7 against the 49ers after missing the first six games with a back injury. He contributes to the Vikings more as a kick returner than out of the backfield, despite the struggles of Cam Akers and Alexander Mattison in the running game.

NOVEMBER 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Avoids injury report Wednesday Nwangwu (illness) was not listed on the Vikings' injury report Wednesday.

NOVEMBER 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ruled out for Week 8 Nwangwu (illness) has been downgraded to out for Sunday's contest against the Packers, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

Impact Nwangwu returned from injured reserve Oct. 18 and made his 2023 debut in Week 7 against the 49ers. His return has been short-lived, though, as he was unable to practice Friday due to an illness. With Nwangwu out for Sunday's divisional matchup against the Packers, Ty Chandler is the most likely candidate to take over kick return duties.

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Questionable with illness Nwangwu (illness) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Green Bay.

Impact Nwangwu missed practice Friday due to an illness, putting his status for Week 8 in limbo. If he can't suit up Sunday, Ty Chandler would likely fill in as Minnesota's primary kick returner.

OCTOBER 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Returns from IR The Vikings reinstated Nwangwu (back) from injured reserve Wednesday.

Impact Nwangwu has regained health and is poised to make his season debut Monday against the 49ers. Though he'll fortify a backfield that also includes Alexander Mattison, Cam Akers and Ty Chandler, Nwangwu is expected to see most of his snaps on special teams. The 25-year-old has been one of the league's top kick returners since entering the NFL in 2021, taking three kicks back for touchdowns while averaging 28.3 yards per return.

OCTOBER 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Effective on special teams in 2022 Nwangwu tallied nine rushes for 14 yards to go along with two receptions (on two targets) for 21 yards over 17 games during the 2022 regular season. He also returned 35 kickoffs fo...

Impact Nwangwu logged the third kickoff-return touchdown of his career while continuing to almost exclusively play in this phase. The second-year running back actually logged fewer offensive snaps (18) than he did during his rookie season (27), when he played just 11 games. Instead, top running backs Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison once again carried Minnesota's rushing game. With the team currently $24.5 million over the projected 2023 salary cap, it's unclear how the Vikings will handle the futures of Cook and Mattison, the latter of whom is set to become an unrestricted free agent. The potential departure of either of these two backs could open up more opportunities for Nwangwu in 2023.

JANUARY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Will play Sunday Nwangwu (illness) is active Sunday against the Giants.

Impact Nwangwu's active status Sunday doesn't come as a surprise as it was reported earlier by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network that he would play. However, his absence from the team's inactive list does make it official. He should handle the team's kick returns, while also being emergency depth at running back.

JANUARY 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Expected to be active Nwangwu (illness) is should play Sunday against the Giants, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Impact Nwangwu logged a DNP on Friday, but he's recovered enough that he's expected to take the field for the wild-card round. Although the second-year pro doesn't see much work on offense, he is the team's kick returner, and it looks like he'll be handling those duties Sunday.

JANUARY 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with illness Nwangwu is questionable for Sunday's wild-card matchup against the Giants due to an illness, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Impact Nwangwu didn't practice Friday due to an illness, and his status for the wild-card matchup is officially in question. If the reserve running back doesn't suit up, Jalen Reagor, K.J. Osborn and Ty Chandler would be candidates for kick-return duties.

JANUARY 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Justin Jefferson, Andrew DePaola & Kene Nwangwu Named to All-Pro Teams Minnesota Vikings Latest News

JANUARY 13, 2023 • VIKINGS.COM

Gets time at RB Nwangwu notched five carries for 13 yards and reeled in his only target for 16 yards during Sunday's 29-13 win against the Bears.

Impact Nwangwu had just four carries all season before the game as he got some playing time at running back in the second half while starters were rested ahead of the playoffs. He'll likely return to just his special teams role in the playoffs.

JANUARY 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

The Vikings Audible: C.J. Ham & Kene Nwangwu On Regrouping During A Short Week, The Importance Of Special Teams | INDY | Week 15 Welcome to the Week 15 edition of The Vikings Audible presented by 3M. It's a fun and short week with 2 of the guys who are 'jack of all tra...

DECEMBER 16, 2022 • VIKINGS.COM

Kene Nwangwu Becomes Third Viking to Win NFC Special Teams Player of the Week in 2022 Nwangwu’s first kickoff return touchdown of the season won him the award.

NOVEMBER 30, 2022 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Returns kick for TD in Week 12 Nwangwu returned five kickoffs for 166 yards -- including one for a 97-yard touchdown -- in the Vikings' 33-26 win over the Patriots in Week 12.

Impact Nwangwu was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week on the strength of his big return, becoming the third Vikings player to take home the honor this season. The second-year running back out of Iowa State has played just seven snaps on offense all season but leads the NFL with 620 kickoff return yards.

NOVEMBER 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Kene Nwangwu Named NFC Special Teams Player of Week Minnesota Vikings Latest News

NOVEMBER 30, 2022 • VIKINGS.COM

Kene Nwangwu's Cleats Honor Son & Support March of Dimes Minnesota Vikings Latest News

NOVEMBER 29, 2022 • VIKINGS.COM

Kene Nwangwu's Third Career Kickoff Return Touchdown Sparks Vikings to Victory Nwangwu finally broke one for the first time this season, and it happened at a huge time.

NOVEMBER 25, 2022 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Stunning Skycam angle catches Kene Nwangwu's 97-yard kick-off return on sideline for Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings running back Kene Nwangwu's tightrope act down the sideline for a 97-yard kick-off return against the New England Patriots...

NOVEMBER 25, 2022 • SKY.COM

Kene Nwangwu's 97-yard Kick Return TD Spices Up Thanksgiving Win by Vikings Minnesota Vikings Latest News

NOVEMBER 25, 2022 • VIKINGS.COM

Kene Nwangwu Talks His Kickoff Return Touchdown Against the New England Patriots in Week 12

NOVEMBER 25, 2022 • YOUTUBE

Can't-Miss Play: Kene Nwangwu's sideline tightrope act burns Pats on 97-yard kickoff return TD Minnesota Vikings running back Kene Nwangwu's tightrope act down the sideline burns the New England Patriots special teams on a 97-yard kick...

NOVEMBER 25, 2022 • NFL.COM

Four total touches Nwangwu gained four yards on two carries and also recorded two receptions for eight yards in Saturday's preseason loss to the 49ers.

Impact Nwangwu worked behind Alexander Mattison while Dalvin Cook (rest) sat out. He saw carries on only two offensive possessions, however, and didn't have any meaningful production. Nwangwu figures to do the majority of his production as Minnesota's kick returner this season, assuming the backfield remains relatively healthy.

AUGUST 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Looks healthy Sunday Nwangwu (leg) rushed seven times for 41 yards and caught both of his targets for 18 yards in Sunday's 26-20 preseason loss to the Raiders.

Impact Nwangwu looked crisp in his return from a minor soft-tissue injury to his leg, flashing the explosiveness that he displayed as a rookie returner last season (two kick-return touchdowns). The 24-year-old figures to have a lock on the kickoff return job in Minnesota, but he has carried over his excellent YPC totals -- albeit in smaller sample sizes -- from his time at Iowa State (5.9 YPC in his final two seasons). Nwangwu probably won't see enough playing time with the talented one-two combo of Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison ahead of him on the Vikings' running back depth chart, but there appears to be potential future fantasy goodness within this young athlete, should the opportunity arise for him to see enough touches on a per-week basis at some point this year (or with another club in the future). As for 2022, Nwangwu will have to fend off Ty Chandler (five carries for 50 yards Sunday) to keep his spot at third on the depth chart heading into the regular season.

AUGUST 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

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