Sam “Taki” Taimani’s Minnesota Vikings chapter is over. The former Oregon Ducks defensive tackle has been waived from injured reserve, ending a two-plus-year stay with the Vikings that began as an undrafted free agent out of Eugene, via the NFL transaction wire.
Taimani, a 6-foot-1, 324-pound nose tackle, first landed in Minnesota after going undrafted in 2024.
He made the initial 53-man roster as a rookie, appeared in seven games that season, and added two more appearances in 2025. Across nine NFL games he recorded four tackles.
An undisclosed injury in this year’s preseason led to a waived-injured designation on Aug. 24; he cleared waivers and reverted to IR.
The latest move, typically paired with an injury settlement, makes him a free agent once the settlement window closes.
For Ducks fans, Taimani’s story started with a rare crossing of the I-5 rivalry.
After four seasons at Washington (71 tackles), the Salt Lake City product transferred to Oregon in January 2022.
In two years in Eugene, he played 25 games, posted 36 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss, and became a reliable interior presence.
In 2023, he started nine of 14 games, finished with 22 tackles, 1.5 TFL and a fumble recovery, and graded 82.3 in run defense from PFF — second among Pac-12 interior linemen.
He never piled up sacks, but he occupied blockers and helped Oregon’s front hold the point of attack.
That work ethic and size earned him a shot in the NFL. Taimani was not a Combine invitee; at Oregon’s pro day he ran a 5.33 40 and posted a 25-inch vertical. The Vikings still saw enough to give him a contract.
He carved out a rotational role as a rookie before injuries and roster math limited him later.
At 26, Taimani now looks for a new landing spot. Teams that need a stout, experienced nose who can eat snaps against the run will have interest once he is medically cleared.
For Oregon supporters, the release is another reminder of how thin the margin is for undrafted interior linemen.
Taimani already beat long odds by making an NFL roster after transferring from the Ducks’ biggest rival. The next contract will decide whether that persistence pays off again.
