Anthony Barr’s reunion with the Minnesota Vikings is three weeks old but there now may be competition for his services after the Dallas Cowboys lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in their pursuit of linebacker Shaq Leonard.
With Leonard signing with the Eagles on Monday, the Cowboys may still be looking to fill a hole at linebacker with the loss of Leighton Vander Esch for the season, and Barr’s name popped up Monday.
“Name I heard was Anthony Barr,” Bryan Broaddus wrote on X in response to a question about what the Cowboys will do after losing out on Leonard.
Name I heard was Anthony Barr. https://t.co/At3imVFAlF
— BryanBroaddus (@BryanBroaddus) December 4, 2023
Barr played 14 games (10 starts) with Dallas last season and totaled 58 tackles, one sack and a pair of fumble recoveries. He was a free agent this season until signing on to the Vikings practice squad three weeks ago. He’s been active for the last two games but he currently is part of the practice squad.
If Dallas or any other team wants, they can put in a claim for Barr. If that happens, the only way the Vikings can avoid losing him is by activating him to the 53-man roster.
Minnesota signed Barr after inside linebacker Jordan Hicks underwent emergency surgery for a shin injury and was subsequently placed on injured reserve. While Hicks says he’s looking forward to playing again, there has been no timetable announced for his return this season. That leaves the inside linebacker spots to rookie Ivan Pace Jr., Brian Asamoah II and Troy Dye.
In Week 12 against the Bears, Pace was on the field for 66 snaps compared to 26 for Dye and 13 for Barr. Asamoah was active but didn’t play.
If the Cowboys come calling, the Vikings have a big decision to make.
