A Vikings Legend Rides Again

A Vikings fans at the Ireland game in Week 4 of 2025. — [US, Mexico, & Canada customers only] Sep 28, 2025; Dublin, IRELAND; Football fans cheer before a NFL International Series game between the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers at Croke Park. Mandatory Credit: Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters via Imagn Images.

Vikings legend Eric Kendricks isn’t done yet.

The linebacker has agreed to join the Los Angeles Rams. Doing so comes with a modest starting spot within the depth chart since he’s being signed to the practice squad. Consider the update that Ian Rapoport of The NFL Network sent along: “Rams signed veteran ILB Eric Kendricks to their practice squad.”

Vikings Legend Eric Kendricks is Now a Ram

Maybe the LA and Kendricks situation is similar to Kyle Van Noy in Minnesota.

At first, Van Noy got work on the practice squad. Minnesota elevated him a trio of times, allowing him to solidify his spot as the clear EDGE3 in Brian Flores’ ferocious defense. Using all of those elevations then led to signing Van Noy to the 53-man roster.

Likewise, the Rams could use the practice squad as a way of getting Kendricks up to speed (understand that comment both literally and metaphorically). He’ll quickly digest the playbook and get himself into football shape. Before long, the ‘backer can start making tackles on Sunday.

NFL: NFC Wild Card Round-San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles — Jan 11, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Eric Kendricks (43) celebrates after breaking up a pass on fourth down against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter in an NFC Wild Card Round game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images – Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Kendricks is from California. Most recently, he put in work with San Francisco, so the veteran is making a small hop from SF to LA but staying within his home state.

Consider his NFL journey since putting in some great football for UCLA:

Minnesota Vikings: 2015-2022
Los Angeles Chargers: 2023
Dallas Cowboys: 2024
San Francisco 49ers: 2025
Los Angeles Rams: 2026

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Clearly, Kendricks has an affinity for playing close to home. Minnesota is his second home since the Vikings scooped him up in the 2nd Round of that legendary 2015 Vikings draft. He would go on to become an All Pro with a horn on his helmet.

The other outlier example is that season with the Cowboys. Note that Mike Zimmer was the DC at the time, so the linebacker joined forces with a skipper whom he knew well from their shared work together in the Twin Cities.

Otherwise, California has been the way to go for Eric Kendricks.

NFL: Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles — Dec 29, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Eric Kendricks (50) pulls down Philadelphia Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell (14) during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images – Credit: USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

In all likelihood, the Rams aren’t looking for vintage Eric Kendricks. At his best, Kendricks was an elite option who made life exceedingly difficult for the offense. What he can be, though, is a rock-solid option who can do basically anything that’s asked of him.

It wasn’t that long ago that the thought of Myles Garrett, Aaron Donald, and Eric Kendricks on the same defense would have felt like a Pro Bowl scrimmage rather than a real game. LA’s task is to coax excellence out of those legendary players to do something special in 2026.

Kendricks is 34.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.