.jpg) Metellus with the Minnesota Vikings in 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| No. 44 –Minnesota Vikings | |||||||||||||||
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| Position: | Safety | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born: | (1998-01-21)January 21, 1998 (age 27) North Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 207 lb (94 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school: | Charles W. Flanagan (Pembroke Pines, Florida) | ||||||||||||||
| College: | Michigan (2016–2019) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2020: 6th round, 205th pick | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||||||||
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Joshua Metellus (born January 21, 1998) is an American professionalfootball utility player for theMinnesota Vikings of theNational Football League (NFL). He is currently listed as asafety. He playedcollege football for theMichigan Wolverines, where he was twice named anAll-Big Ten selection. He was selected by the Vikings in the2020 NFL draft.
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After playing atCharles W. Flanagan High School, Metellus committed toMichigan on June 17, 2015, choosing the Wolverines overColorado,Florida International,Middle Tennessee State and others.[1] He had previously committed toGeorgia Southern, but switched to Michigan after attending an affiliate camp, and Flanagan teammateDevin Bush Jr. later signed with Michigan as well.[2]
Metellus saw some action as a backup during his true freshman season at Michigan, and garnered honorable mention all-Big Ten Conference during his sophomore season on the strength of three games started.[3]
After practicing at both free safety and strong safety in the spring,[4] his senior season included duties as an edge cover in the running game and a roaming safety in the passing game.[5] Metellus was named a team captain his senior season, and participated in the2020 Senior Bowl and 2020NFL Combine.[6]
At the NFL Combine, Mettelus' 20 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, ranked fourth-most among safeties. In the vertical jump, his performance of 36.5 inches ranked sixth, and he tied for 10th in the broad jump with a mark of 10 feet, 4 inches. His time of 4.55 seconds in the – ranked 11th amongst his position group.[7]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 209 lb (95 kg) | 32+1⁄4 in (0.82 m) | 10+1⁄4 in (0.26 m) | 4.55 s | 1.54 s | 2.66 s | 4.40 s | 6.94 s | 36.5 in (0.93 m) | 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m) | 20 reps | |
| All values fromNFL Combine[8][9] | ||||||||||||
TheMinnesota Vikings selected Metellus in the sixth round (205th overall) of the2020 NFL draft.[10] He was the 17th safety drafted in 2020 and was one of many 2020 sixth or seventh round safeties that successfully became starters, includingAlohi Gilman,Jordan Fuller,Kamren Curl, andGeno Stone.
"Metellus might not have the high-end athletic traits that will earn him a starting role in camp, but if he gets into an NFL game, he might not give the job back, showing the toughness required for downhill work and just enough range on the back end."[7]
On July 23, 2020, the Minnesota Vikings signed Metellus to a four–year,$3.45 million contract that includes an initialsigning bonus of $160,265.[11]
Throughouttraining camp, Metellus competed againstBrian Cole II for a roster spot as a backup safety. On September 5, 2020, the Minnesota Vikings waived him as part of their final roster cuts and signed him to thepractice squad the next day.[12][13] He was promoted to the active roster on September 18, 2020.[14]
Metellus made his first career start in Week 3 of the 2022 season against theDetroit Lions, where he recorded his first career interception offJared Goff in the final seconds of the fourth quarter in the 28–24 win.[15]
On September 7, 2023, the Minnesota Vikings signed Mettelus to a two–year,$8.00 millioncontract extension that includes $5.13 million guaranteed upon signing and an initialsigning bonus of $3.00 million.[16][17][11]
During the 2023 season, he became notable for his versatility withinBrian Flores' defense, playing in twelve different defensive positions through Week 14.[18]
