EAGAN, Minn. — Stephen Weatherly is returning to the Vikings.
The team announced Monday that the defensive end, who was a seventh-round draft pick by Minnesota in 2016, has signed a contract that will return him to Minnesota. Weatherly was at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center on Monday after passing a physical.
Weatherly signed with the Panthers as a free agent during the 2020 offseason but played in just nine games due to an injury. He recorded 17 tackles with a tackle for loss in 2020 and was released by Carolina earlier this offseason.
The early release by the Panthers enabled the Vikings to reach a deal with him before the start of the new league year on March 17. It also means Weatherly's addition will not count against Minnesota when the NFL determines compensatory picks for 2022.
View the top photos of Vikings DE Stephen Weatherly from the 2019 season.
Weatherly showed his excitement to re-join the Vikings in a post on his Instagram account Thursday morning that included video highlights, clips of him working out and a message.
"I'm really excited to be back in Minnesota where I started my career," Weatherly said. "The fans have been asking for it, so I'm finally able to bring it to them."
He now rejoins a team (and a defense) he knows well. Weatherly played in 49 regular-season games from 2016-19 and made seven starts, recording 84 total tackles with 6.0 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles.
Perhaps his most impactful play came in Week 5 of the 2018 season when he sacked quarterback Carson Wentz on the road in Philadelphia. Weatherly's hit jarred the ball loose, and Linval Joseph promptly gathered it before rumbling for a 64-yard fumble return touchdown.
View photos of Vikings DE Stephen Weatherly who the team recently welcomed back.
An image from October 14, 2018 regular season home game against the Arizona Cardinals. The Vikings won 27-17.
An image from the Aug. 18, 2017 preseason away game against the Seattle Seahawks. The Vikings lost 13-20.
An image from the Nov. 20, 2017 regular season home game against the LA Rams. The Vikings won 24-7.
An image from the Oct. 9, 2017 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings won 20-17.
An image from the Aug. 31, 2017 preseason home game against the Miami Dolphins. The Vikings lost 9-30.
An image from August 18, 2018 preseason home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Vikings lost 10-14.
An image from August 11, 2018 preseason away game against the Denver Broncos. The Vikings won 42-28.
An image from August 24, 2018 preseason home game against the Seattle Seahawks. The Vikings won 21-20.
An image from August 18, 2018 preseason home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Vikings lost 10-14.
An image from August 30, 2018 preseason away game against the Tennessee Titans. The Vikings won 13-3.
An image from a 2016 Minnesota Vikings practice.
An image from August 11, 2018 preseason away game against the Denver Broncos. The Vikings won 42-28.
An image from September 23, 2018 regular season home game against the Buffalo Bills. The Vikings lost 6-27.
An image from August 30, 2018 preseason away game against the Tennessee Titans. The Vikings won 13-3.
An image from October 21, 2018 regular season away game against the New York Jets. The Vikings won 37-17.
An image from October 7, 2018 regular season away game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Vikings won 23-21.
An image from September 23, 2018 regular season home game against the Buffalo Bills. The Vikings lost 6-27.
An image from October 24, 2019 regular season home game against the Washington Redskins. The Vikings won 19-9.
An image from December 15, 2019 regular season away game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Vikings won 39-10.
An image from November 3, 2019 regular season away game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Vikings loss 23-26.
An image from November 3, 2019 regular season away game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Vikings loss 23-26.
An image from August 9, 2019 preseason away game against the New Orleans Saints. The Vikings won 34-25.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.
An image from September 27, 2018 regular season away game against the Los Angeles Rams. The Vikings lost 31-38.
An image from September 23, 2018 regular season home game against the Buffalo Bills. The Vikings lost 6-27.
The addition of Weatherly provides depth at defensive end for a Vikings unit that struggled to generate pressure on quarterbacks in 2020. Minnesota finished with just 23 total sacks this past season, which was the lowest total in franchise history.
Weatherly has also a strong connection with Andre Patterson, who is Minnesota's Co-Defensive Coordinator and defensive line coach.
The 227th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft will turn 27 on March 19. He spent the majority of his rookie season on the practice squad before being activated in November of that season. He made his NFL debut in Jacksonville in Week 14.
Weatherly, who played collegiately at Vanderbilt, plays nine musical instruments and has an affinity for Rubik's Cubes and other hobbies such as glass blowing.
