Photo: Christian Bender/CFL
The Minnesota Vikings have waived former Calgary Stampeders defensive tackle Jaylon Hutchings with a non-football injury.
According to a report from Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the injury is a hamstring issue and is not expected to be long-term. Hutchings will be available to be claimed on waivers by all 31 other NFL teams over the next 24 hours. If he clears waivers, the Vikings can elect to release him, thereby saving a spot on their 90-man offseason roster, or place him on the non-football injury list.
Players who spend the entirety of training camp on the Reserve/NFI list do not count against an NFL team’s 53-man active roster and can only return after missing a minimum of four games.
Hutchings recorded 39 defensive tackles, eight sacks, and one forced fumble over 17 regular-season CFL games in 2025, his first season as a starter with the Stamps. The six-foot, 304-pound pass rusher was named All-CFL and was the top-graded defensive player in the league, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
The 26-year-old signed with Calgary late during the 2024 campaign, suiting up for two regular-season games and registering two defensive tackles. Hutchings had a brief stint with the Chicago Bears earlier that year but was released near the end of the team’s training camp.
The native of Forney, Tex., was a collegiate standout at Texas Tech University, where he recorded 193 total tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one pass knockdown over 61 games. He underwent knee surgery late in his final season with the Red Raiders, which hurt his stock in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Hutchings worked out for the Minnesota Vikings and the Cleveland Browns this offseason, resulting in a contract for 2026. He is a CFL free agent and eligible to sign with any team on either side of the border once released.
