Over the past couple of years, it was almost a rite of passage for Minnesota Vikings fans to wonder what Kyle Sloter could do if given a chance. Sloter was a preseason god for Minnesota every August and while he led multiple preseason comebacks, he never could climb higher than third on the Vikings’ depth chart and was waived at the end of last preseason.
Sloter wound up on the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad this season, but it appears he’s getting a second chance on an NFL roster and it just so happens it will be in the NFC North as ESPN’s Field Yates reported he was signed by the Detroit Lions on Saturda, with Sloter later confirming the news on his Twitter account.
The Lions are signing QB Kyle Sloter off of the Cardinals’ practice squad, per source. Good developmental QB prospect for Detroit to work with.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 30, 2019
God is Good! 🦁
— Kyle Sloter (@KyleSloter) November 30, 2019
The Lions are hurting for depth at quarterback after Matthew Stafford was forced to the sideline with broken bones in his back and Jeff Driskel was placed on injured reserve on Saturday with an ankle injury that forced him to miss Detroit’s Thanksgiving matchup with the Chicago Bears.
While Sloter will be heading to the Motor City, his following might want to pump the brakes on a potential “Slotermania” campaign wrapping up the 2019 season even if the 3-9-1 Lions want to hold Stafford out for the rest of the year. Rookie David Blough was sharp throwing for 280 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in his first career start.
That means it’s extremely unlikely that Sloter will have a “revenge game” in Week 14 when the Lions head to U.S. Bank Stadium to face the Vikings, but the door could swing open later in the season if Blough falters.
Such a scenario would be intriguing if Sloter climbs to the starting position in time for a Week 17 game with the Green Bay Packers, who the Vikings may need to lose to clinch the NFC North title.
Either way, it appears that the legend of Kyle Sloter is alive and well, but the next chapter might have to wait until next preseason.
