Ahead of Sunday's game ROCORI graduate and Cold Spring-native Matt Waletzko flew to London to join his new team, the Minnesota Vikings.
LONDON, UK — On Sunday, Cold Spring-native Matt Waletzko was back on the field with his home-state Minnesota Vikings — in Europe.
The 2017 ROCORI High School graduate was signed to the NFL team's practice squad ahead of its 21-17 international victory over the Cleveland Browns. The Vikings have several offensive linemen recovering from injuiries and signed Waletzko to bolster roster depth. Minnesota hosts the Philadelphia Eagles at noon Oct. 19 at U.S. Bank Stadium in MInneapolis.
In 2022, the Dallas Cowboys drafted Waletzko in the fifth round out of North Dakota, where he started 10 of 11 games his senior season the previous fall. Including seven at tackle last season, he has played in games for the Cowboys every year since, making him the third Spartan to play in the NFL following 2005 graduate Eric Decker and 1979 graduate and St. John's Johnny Rick Bell. St. Cloud Tech graduate Brevyn Spann-Ford has also played tight end for Dallas since 2024 and has a reception this season.
Waletzko flew to England from his home in Dallas to join the team and pass a physical ahead of Sunday's game, though he did not log any snaps against the Browns. In addition to quarterback J.J. McCarthy, guard Donovan Jackson, center Ryan Kelly, center Michael Jurgens, tackle Brian O'Neill, running back C.J. Ham and tight end Ben Yurosek were out on the Vikings' offense.
Contact reporter Reid Glenn at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Matt Waletzko signs with Minnesota Vikings, placed on practice squad
Category: General Sports
