Fellow Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter is to undergo season-ending surgery on herniated disc in his neck
Thursday 22 October 2020 18:54, UK
The Minnesota Vikings are trading defensive end Yannick Ngakoue to the Baltimore Ravens after just five games.
In return the Vikings will receive a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional fifth-round pick in 2022, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
Ngakoue had only joined the Vikings at the end of August when he was acquired via a trade that saw a 2021 second-round pick and a conditional fifth-round pick head to the Jacksonville Jaguars in return.
"We are excited to add Yannick Ngakoue to our football team," said Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta in a statement on the team website.
"Yannick is someone who we are very familiar with going back to the draft process years ago. He is an exciting player and a dangerous pass rusher who makes us better.
"Yannick grew up here. He's the type of person we welcome in our building. Finally, we are not finished building this team, as we continue to chase our ultimate goals."
The 25-year-old spent the past offseason pushing for a move away from the Jaguars having refused to sign his franchise tender, even engaging in a Twitter dispute with the franchise's co-owner Tony Khan.
His wish was eventually granted on the final day of August when he was traded to the Vikings, who had hoped to partner him across from Danielle Hunter as part of a formidable new-look pass rush duo in light of Everson Griffen's departure.
In five games Ngakoue has 10 tackles and five sacks, with the Vikings defense currently ranked 28th overall in the league.
He reunites with former Jaguars teammate Calais Campbell in Baltimore, the pair having played together as the team reached the AFC Championship game at the end of the 2017 season.
The 2016 third-round pick has 132 combined tackles, 42.5 sacks, nine pass defenses, 16 forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in 68 career games in the NFL.
Vikings fans suffered a further blow on Thursday with the news that defensive end Danielle Hunter is to undergo season-ending surgery on herniated disc in his neck.
Hunter hasn't played a snap this season, having dealt with the issue back as far back as August. Initially, the Vikings hoped the edge rusher could rehab and return this year.
Hunter was coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons as one of the most athletic edge rushers in the NFL, earning 14.5 sacks each of the past two seasons.
Despite signing a new contract that keeps him tied to Minnesota through the 2023 season, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Hunter wants to re-do his deal coming off surgery or could ask to be traded next year.
The Seattle Seahawks are interested in making a push to sign former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown, sources have told ESPN, with his NFL suspension eligible to end after Week Eight of the 2020 season.
The NFL suspended Brown for eight games without pay for multiple violations of the league's personal conduct policy, the league announced in July.
The NFL also continues to investigate a lawsuit filed by Brown's former athletic trainer, alleging that she was sexually assaulted by him. Brown has denied the allegations.
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, when asked about reports linking the team to Brown, said they had "endeavoured to be in on everything that's going on," adding that general manager John Schneider "has done a marvellous job of always being tuned into what's happening, and this is no exception.
"So we'll see what happens as we go forward, but we're tuned into what's happening there."
Ryan Fitzpatrick has become no stranger to the quarterback turnstile in recent years, but his demotion with the Miami Dolphins appears to have hurt more than any before it.
The 16-year veteran was officially benched by the team this week as head coach Brian Flores made the decision to name rookie Tua Tagovailoa as starter under center.
"My heart just hurt all day," admitted Fitzpatrick. "It was heartbreaking for me. Flo said what he said, and said what he said to you guys as well, and that's the decision and direction the organisation is going in.
"I basically got fired yesterday, and today my day consisted of Zoom meetings with the guy that fired me and sitting in a room with the guy who replaced me for four hours.
"I've been benched for all kinds of different ways, but this was kind of the first place other than Buffalo that I've been fully committed and invested. I felt like it was my team."
Sky Sports NFL is your dedicated channel for NFL coverage through the season - featuring a host of NFL Network programming, a new weekly preview show as well as at least five games a week and NFL Redzone, you won't miss a moment. Don't forget to follow us on skysports.com/nfl, our Twitter account @SkySportsNFL & Sky Sports - on the go!
