Vikings claim MLB Xavier Adibi

Former Houston Texan started at ILB against the Vikings on Saturday.

September 4, 2011 at 6:00PM

The Vikings have a backup middle linebacker now, and his name is Xavier Adibi.

A fourth-round draft pick of the Texans in 2008, Adibi has eight career starts and has played in 34 games in his three NFL seasons. A year ago, he had 22 tackles and a forced fumble in 11 games, including three starts.

The Vikings got a good look at him before cutdown day. Adibi started in ILB in Houston's 3-4 defense in Saturday night's preseason finale loss to the Vikings at the Metrodome. Adibi had five tackles and a quarterback hit.

Adibi is 6-2, 242 pounds. He'll become the sixth linebacker on the roster, but is the only backup who is a middle linebacker. The Vikings haven't announced a corresponding roster move yet. Adibi's waiver claim was announced by his agent via Twitter.

Meanwhile, the Vikings have started assembling their practice squad. Receiver Emmanuel Arceneaux has been signed to the practice squad. The Vikings typically keep one receiver on the practice squad.

about the writer

about the writer

Mark Craig

Sports reporter

Mark Craig has covered the NFL nearly every year since Brett Favre was a rookie back in 1991. A sports writer since 1987, he is covering his 30th NFL season out of 37 years with the Canton (Ohio) Repository (1987-99) and the Star Tribune (1999-present).

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