Ward logged 10 tackles (five solo), including 1.0 sacks, one pass defense and one fumble recovery across 17 regular-season games in 2024. Ward signed a one-year, $1.79 million contract with the Vikings in March of 2024 after spending the last two seasons with the Giants. The 2016 second-round pick out of Illinois played a mostly rotational role at defensive end, and his 10 combined tackles were his lowest output since the 2019 campaign (seven tackles across 14 regular-season games). Ward enters the offseason as an unrestricted free agent and will look to catch on with a team in need of a veteran defensive end.
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Status
ACTIVELatest Jihad Ward news
Other Vikings Players
Team
Minnesota Vikings
Birthdate
5/11/1994 (30)
Status
Active
HT/WT
6'5", 286 lbs
Draft Info
2016: Rd 2; Pk (LV)
Birthplace
Philadelphia, PA, USA
Position
OLB
College
Illinois
Experience
9 seasons
Career History
Minnesota Vikings
2024-Present
(1 season)
New York Giants
2022-2024
(2 seasons)
Jacksonville Jaguars
2021-2022
(1 season)
Baltimore Ravens
2019-2021
(2 seasons)
Indianapolis Colts
2018-2019
(2 seasons)
Dallas Cowboys
2018-2018
(1 season)
Ward logged 10 tackles (five solo), including 1.0 sacks, one pass defense and one fumble recovery across 17 regular-season games in 2024. Ward signed a one-year, $1.79 million contract with the Vikings in March of 2024 after spending the last two seasons with the Giants. The 2016 second-round pick out of Illinois played a mostly rotational role at defensive end, and his 10 combined tackles were his lowest output since the 2019 campaign (seven tackles across 14 regular-season games). Ward enters the offseason as an unrestricted free agent and will look to catch on with a team in need of a veteran defensive end.
Ward had two total tackles in Sunday's win over Atlanta. He played on 31 of the defense's 74 snaps as helped fill a void with Pat Jones missing the game with a knee injury. Ward has a sack, seven tackles and recovered fumble while getting limited time as a reserve outside linebacker.
Ward signed a contract with the Vikings on Wednesday, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Ward has spent the last two seasons with the Giants, including recording a career-high 5.0 sacks last season in 17 games. The veteran can play outside linebacker, as well as on the edge, and could bolster Minnesota's pass rush in 2024.