Vikings sign DE Brailford, place DT Mata’afa on waivers

The Minnesota Vikings made a roster move Tuesday, signing defensive end Jordan Brailford off Washington’s practice squad.

To make room on the roster, Minnesota placed defensive tackle Hercules Mata’afa on waivers. The Vikings also signed defensive end Eddie Yarbrough to the practice squad and protected kicker Chase McLaughlin there.

Brailford wasn’t one of the Football Team’s protected players for Week 5. Brailford, a 2019 seventh-round pick by Washington, has yet to make his NFL debut as he spent the entire 2019 season on the reserve/injured list. In 35 collegiate games at Oklahoma State, Brailford compiled 135 total tackles (90 solo), 31.5 tackles for loss, 16 sacks and three forced fumbles.

Mata’afa, a 6-foot-2, 254-pound defensive end, played nine games after signing with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He played 18 defensive snaps over the first five contests of the 2020 season.