The 26-year-old Kearse got his wish early Thursday morning. Now he’s scheduled to face his former team twice after agreeing with the Detroit Lions on a one-year deal. It’s worth up to $2.75 million, according to NFL Media.
Kearse, a 2016 seventh-round pick, developed into a core player on coverage and return phases for the Vikings. He was a special teams captain last season until his Oct. 27 DUI arrest. The Vikings defense deployed Kearse, standing 6-foot-4, in a ‘big nickel’ package featuring him as the fifth defensive back in the red zone or against offenses with bigger targets.