Jerick McKinnon and the Minnesota Vikings fell one game short of playing in Super Bowl LII, falling to top-seeded Philadelphia 38-7 Sunday night at Lincoln Financial Field in the NFC Championship Game. McKinnon was a big part of the offense, hauling in a career-high 11 receptions and was the team leader in carries, rushing yards, receptions and receiving yards, but the Vikings fell behind big in the third quarter and couldn't rally.
Jerick McKinnon, RB, Minnesota
lost to #1 seed Philadelphia, 38-7
STATS: 10 carries, 40 yards; 11 receptions, 86 yards
2017 Wrap-Up: 16 games played (1 start); 150 rushes, 570 yards, 3 TDs; 51 receptions, 421 yards, 2 TD; 12 kickoff returns, 26.0 avg.
Career Update: McKinnon went from a possible final cut guy to a player who has been an integral part of the Vikings' big run this year after starter Dalvin Cook tore his ACL. He's in the final year of a four-year deal with the Vikings, making $750,000 this season. After becoming a household name this year, McKinnon's future with the Vikings beyond 2017 remains an unknown and may be a prized free agent running back.
Up Next: Season Complete
ALREADY ELIMINATED FROM PLAYOFFS
Ukeme Eligwe, LB, Kansas City
2017 Wrap-Up: 14 games played (1 start); 5 tackles, 1.0 sack
Career Update: The fifth-round draft pick saw all of his 2017 action on special teams. Eligwe signed a 4 year, $2,601,937 contract with the Chiefs, including a $201,937 signing bonus, $201,937 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $650,484, and will look to continue to improve in 2018.
Up Next: Season Complete (lost to Tennessee in first round)
J.J. Wilcox, S, Pittsburgh
2017 Wrap-Up: 12 games played (1 start); 12 tackles, 1 INT
Career Update: After playing his first four seasons in Dallas, Wilcox signed with Tampa Bay in the offseason. He was traded to Pittsburgh in September, but saw his playing time decrease as the season went on. The Cairo native has one year left on his contract and is owed $3.8 million for a second season in Pittsburgh. With such a high salary owed, it is expected he will be playing elsewhere in 2018.
Up Next: Season Over (lost to Jacksonville in second round)
DID NOT MAKE PLAYOFFS
Matt Breida, RB, San Francisco
2017 Wrap-Up: 16 games played; 105 rushes, 465 yards, 2 TDs; 21 receptions, 180 yards, 1 TD; 5 kickoff returns, 16.6 avg.
Career Update: His story is well-known by now, but Breida has made the most of his rookie campaign after taking the long route to the 53-man roster. He went from an undrafted free agent to winning the No. 2 running back spot behind Carlos Hyde. Breida signed a three-year, $1,670,000 contract with the 49ers, including a $5,000 signing bonus, $30,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $556,667, and will look to continue to improve in 2018 as the 49ers ended the season as one of the hottest teams in the league on a five-game winning streak.
Up Next: Season Complete
PRACTICE SQUAD
Antwione Williams, LB, Minnesota
2017 Update: Williams was a surprise cut of the Detroit Lions on the final day of cut downs. The young linebacker was expected to be a contender for the Lions' strongside linebacker job in 2017, but quickly fell behind Paul Worrilow and Steve Longa on the depth chart during the preseason. After a few weeks with no one, the Vikings signed him to their practice squad in early September, where he stayed all season.
Career Update: After a solid showing in 2016 with the Lions in which he recorded 27 tackles and started three games, Williams will look to hook on with a team in 2018 and make the 53-man roster.
Up Next: Season Complete
INJURED RESERVE
Edwin Jackson, LB, Indianapolis
2017 Update: After injuring his hip in preseason, the Colts placed Jackson on Injured Reserve on Sept. 2.
Career Update: Jackson started eight games for the Colts in 2016, recording 66 tackles. The former Georgia Southern walk-on signed with the Arizona Cardinals but never played in the NFL until catching on with the Colts last season. He'll look to return to his 2016 form next year with the Colts.
WAIVED
Montay Crockett, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
2017 Wrap-Up: Crockett fared well in preseason camp with Green Bay but with the amount of receivers on the squad, he was a cut-day casualty. He bounced around for two months, trying out with the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans before landing with the Jacksonville Jaguars' practice squad on Oct. 31. He was called up to the 53-man roster on Dec. 26 but was one of seven inactives for the team's regular season finale and the first playoff game. He was waived by the squad on Jan. 13.
Career Update: The speedy receiver and return man will look for his chance in 2018 as he tries to make the 53-man roster of a squad.
Younghoe Koo, PK, Los Angles Chargers
2017 Wrap-Up: Koo won the job in preseason camp, but got off to a rocky start with the Chargers as his game-winning field goal against Denver in the opener was blocked and he missed a game winner in week two against Miami. He rebounded well over the next two weeks, making all of his kicks, but was waived after the fourth game. He made three of six field goals with a long of 41 yards and didn't miss on nine PATs.
Career Update: Koo had several workouts with teams during the season, but wasn't signed. He continues to train in hopes of being invited to a camp in 2018.
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