Offensive lineman Zeke Correll will have to wait to make his NFL breakthrough after fracturing his ankle during Saturday’s pre-season victory over the Houston Texans
Former Notre Dame offensive lineman Zeke Correll has been waived by the Minnesota Vikings after suffering an fractured ankle
Former Notre Dame star Zeke Correll has been cruelly denied the opportunity to make his NFL debut this season after being waived by the Minnesota Vikings after fracturing his ankle.
The 24-year-old was signed as an undrafted free agent by the NFC North franchise back in April and made his professional debut in Saturday’s pre-season victory over the Houston Texans, where he played 12 offensive snaps in the 20-10 win. However, things would end in heartbreak as he was stretchered off with a fractured ankle.
On Tuesday, the Vikings confirmed that they had waived Correll, coming just days after Notre Dame tight end Kevin Bauman announced his retirement after suffering his latest season-ending injury. Last month, former Fighting Irish and Atlanta Falcons linebacker Ade Ogundeji also called time on his NFL career.
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“Zeke Correll has been waived with an injury designation,” a Vikings statement read. “Correll, an undrafted free agent out of N.C. State, played 12 offensive snaps against the Texans in his pro debut before suffering a fractured ankle.”
Shortly after, Correll took to social media to confirm the decision and provide an update on his current situation, in which he confirmed he will be having “season-ending surgery.”
“Sometimes things happen that I don’t understand. One minute I’m living out my dream in an NFL stadium, the next I’m having season-ending surgery,” Correll wrote on X. “I will be back stronger than ever. God’s plan is greater.”
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It comes as a major blow for Correll, having appeared to have put himself in contention to make Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell’s final 53-man roster.
The 6-foot-3, 307 lb star had come off the back of an impressive graduate season with the NC State Wolfpack, having started all 13 games at center and been named third team all-ACC.
Correll had transferred to play for the Atlantic Coast Conference side following the 2023 college football season, having spent five years with Notre Dame. In his final campaign, he made just ten starts due to suffering a season-ending head injury late in the year.
In his first three seasons from 2019 to 2021, Correll combined to play in 16 games with eight starts as a part-time starter on the Fighting Irish’s offensive line.
Correll spent five seasons with Notre Dame between 2019-2023
In 2022, he started all 13 games at center in what was head coach Marcus Freeman‘s first season in charge at South Bend, helping the Fighting Irish to a 9-4 record and a victory over South Carolina in the 2022 Taxslayer Gator Bowl.
Last month, Notre Dame commit Devin Fitzgerald promised to build his own legacy in South Bend after opting against his dad’s alma mater for 2026.
The 6-foot-2 standout ultimately decided that Notre Dame was the better fit and became the 24th player to commit to next year’s class, joining wide receiver Kaydon Finley, elite safety Joey O’Brien, four-star CB Khary Adams, and top-three tight end Ian Premer.