Reports: Vikings likely bringing back George Iloka

Reports are circulating this afternoon that the Minnesota Vikings might be bringing back an old friend. . .one that we didn’t really get a heck of a lot of opportunity to get to know the first time he was here.

Per numerous sources on social media, safety George Iloka is in Minneapolis going through the COVID-19 protocols with the expectation that the Vikings will be signing him later this week.

A fifth-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2012 NFL Draft out of Boise State, Iloka played under current Vikings’ head coach Mike Zimmer when he was the defensive coordinator in Cincinnati. Iloka left Cincinnati for Minnesota in 2018 and really didn’t get a heck of a lot of playing time on defense, registering just 14 tackles over the course of the season.

Iloka then signed with the Cowboys for the 2019 season, but was let go as part of their final cuts and wound up sitting out the year. The Vikings gave him a tryout back in August, and now it appears that they’re ready to make a move with him.

The signing of Iloka would give the Vikings some veteran presence behind Anthony Harris and Harrison Smith. Those two were the only safeties the Vikings had listed on the roster, and they eventually brought Nate Meadors, a converted cornerback in his second NFL season, up from the practice squad before Sunday’s season opener against Green Bay.

If and when the signing of Iloka becomes official, we will let you know.