Former Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Dede Westbrook appears to be fully recovered from the ACL tear he sustained last season and will begin making stops to find a new team this weekend. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, he’ll be working out for the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday, then afterward, he’ll be making a trip to Seattle to meet with the Seahawks on Sunday, according to NFL reporter Josina Anderson.
The #Vikings are working out former #Jaguars speedy WR DeDe Westbrook tomorrow, source said, as Westbrook indicated on Instagram. He has three teams interested, but will likely sign in Minnesota if all goes well. The familiarity with former Jax WRs coach Keenan McCardell helps.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 23, 2021
I'm told free agent WR Dede Westbrook is planning to travel Sunday for a visit with the #Seahawks, at this time, per source. Westbrook is still currently in Minnesota.
— IG: JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) July 23, 2021
Westbrook’s meeting with the Vikings makes sense because former Jags receivers coach Keenan McCardell now has the same title with Minnesota. And though the group is led by Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen, the team seems to believe there could be room for some speed at the position. They could also be looking at him for help on special teams as Westbrook has return experience, too (47 punt returns for 461 yards and a touchdown).
Westbrook was drafted by the Jags in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Throughout his tenure, he was decently productive in Duval accumulating 160 catches for 1,720 career receiving yards and nine touchdowns. His career-high came in 2017 when he accumulated 66 catches for 717 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
If Westbrook doesn’t sign with either team, there could be other opportunities on the table as Anderson reported that players from the Kansas City Chiefs reached out to him about potentially signing back in May. Anderson reported that the Cincinnati Bengals also had preliminary conversations with Westbrook.
