Tillery notched 28 tackles (13 solo), two pass breakups and one forced fumble across 17 regular-season appearances with the Vikings in 2024. Tillery began the 2024 campaign hovering around the range of 50 percent of defensive snaps, but from Week 11 on his rotational role involved closer to 30 percent of defensive snaps per game. The 28-year-old is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, so he may need to search for a chance to contribute with another club.
Tillery started at left defensive end and had one pass defensed and one QB hit, but did not have a tackle, in Sunday's win over Houston. Tillery played on 30 of the defense's 67 snaps. He's knocked down two passes at the line of scrimmage in three games. Tillery is mostly a run stuffer who has just 12.5 sacks in six prior seasons.
Tillery (lower leg) was absent from Minnesota's injury report Wednesday ahead of Sunday's Week 1 game against the Giants. Tillery was carted off the field with a lower leg injury during a practice in early August, but it appears he's recovered in time for the Vikings' regular-season opener Sunday. The veteran defensive lineman signed a one-year contract worth up to $3.75 million with Minnesota this past offseason, and he figures to line up as one of the team's top defensive ends in 2024.
Tillery left Saturday's practice session on a cart due to a lower right leg injury, Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Tillery signed a one-year deal with the Vikings in March after spending the last two years with the Raiders, and the 2019 first-round pick is slated to start at defensive end opposite Jonathan Bullard. If Tillery were to miss extended time, Jonah Williams and Jihad Ward are candidates to see more snaps with the first-team defense during training camp and preseason games.
Tillery agreed to a one-year contract worth up to $3.75 million with the Vikings on Thursday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Tillery was a cap casualty of the Raiders on Wednesday, and the 2019 first-round selection will now suit up with Minnesota in 2024. In 17 contests last season, the Notre Dame product tallied 31 combined tackles, including 2.0 sacks and also recovered a fumble. He should bolster the team's depth at nose tackle for the upcoming season.
Tillery is set to be released by the Raiders on Wednesday, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. Tillery signed a two-year, $6.8 million contract with the Raiders in March of 2023, appearing in all 17 of the team's games in 2023, recording 31 tackles, including 2.0 sacks, while also recovering a fumble. His release will create $3.8 million in cap space for Las Vegas, which will enter the new league year Wednesday with up to $50 million in overall cap space.