Blake Lynch
{{Short description|American football player (born 1997)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Blake Lynch
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team =
| number =
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|2|14|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Troup, Texas, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lb = 225
| high_school = Gilmer (TX)
| college = Baylor (2015–2019)
| undraftedyear = 2020
| pastteams =
- Minnesota Vikings ({{NFL Year|2020|2021}})
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2022}}–{{NFL Year|2023}})*
- Los Angeles Chargers ({{NFL Year|2023}})
- Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|2024}})*
- Los Angeles Chargers ({{NFL Year|2024}})*
- Las Vegas Raiders ({{NFL Year|2024}})*
- Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|2024}})
| status =
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 57
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 2.0
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 1
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 1
| statlabel5 = Pass deflections
| statvalue5 = 3
| statlabel6 = Interceptions
| statvalue6 = 1
| statlabel7 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue7 =
| pfr = LyncBl00
}}
Blake Lynch (born February 14, 1997) is an American professional football linebacker. He played college football for the Baylor Bears, and has previously played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Chargers.
College career
Born in Gilmer, Texas, Lynch attended Gilmer High School, where he played alongside future Vikings teammate Kris Boyd. After redshirting in his freshman year, he played college football for Baylor, where he made 32 career starts at five different positions (cornerback, linebacker, safety, wide receiver and running back). In a four-year college career, he accrued 673 receiving yards, four receiving touchdowns and 79 rushing yards.{{cite web |title=Blake Lynch |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/blake-lynch-1.html |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |accessdate=December 21, 2020 }}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 2 1/8
| weight = 225
| note = Values from Pro Day{{Cite web |title=2020 NFL Draft Scout Blake Lynch College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1002936&DraftYear=2020 |access-date=January 23, 2024 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
=Minnesota Vikings=
Lynch was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent following the 2020 NFL draft on April 28, 2020.{{cite news |last1=Peters |first1=Craig |last2=Smith |first2=Eric |last3=Young |first3=Lindsey |title=A Dozen Join Vikings as 2020 Undrafted Rookie Free Agents |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/a-dozen-join-vikings-as-2020-undrafted-rookie-free-agents |website=Vikings.com |date=April 28, 2020 |access-date=January 27, 2021}} He was waived during final roster cuts on September 5,{{cite news |last1=Peters |first1=Craig |last2=Smith |first2=Eric |title=Vikings Announce Roster Moves, Set Initial 53-Man Roster |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/2020-roster-53-man-announced |website=Vikings.com |date=September 5, 2020 |access-date=January 27, 2021}} and signed to the team's practice squad the following day.{{cite news |title=Vikings Claim LB Ryan Connelly, Add 13 Players To Practice Squad |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/ryan-connelly-2020-practice-squad-add-13-players |website=Vikings.com |date=September 6, 2020 |access-date=January 27, 2021}} He was elevated to the active roster on December 12 for the team's week 14 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and reverted to the practice squad after the game.{{cite tweet |user=Vikings |title=The #Vikings have signed LB Hardy Nickerson (@younghardy_) to the active roster. LB Blake Lynch has been elevated to the active roster for #MINvsTB and S Curtis Riley has been waived. |number=1337842334570967040 |date=December 12, 2020 |access-date=January 27, 2021}} He played 13 snaps on special teams, and his only statistical contribution was a downed punt at the end of the Vikings' first drive of the game. He was promoted to the active roster on December 16,{{cite news |title=Vikings Waive CB Mark Fields II, Sign LB Blake Lynch from Practice Squad to Active Roster |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/mark-fields-blake-lynch-roster-moves |website=Vikings.com |date=December 16, 2020 |access-date=January 27, 2021}} and played in the game against the Chicago Bears. He played one defensive snap, contributing one tackle assist, and 16 special teams snaps, making one tackle on kick coverage in the game.{{cite web |title=Blake Lynch |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LyncBl00.htm |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |accessdate=December 21, 2020 }}
On August 30, 2022, Lynch was waived by the Vikings.{{Cite news|url=https://www.vikings.com/news/roster-moves-initial-53-man-waived-injured-2022|title=Vikings Announce Roster Moves, Set Initial 53-Man Roster|website=Vikings.com|date=August 30, 2022}}
=Arizona Cardinals=
On October 18, 2022, Lynch was signed to the Arizona Cardinals practice squad.{{Cite web |title=Cardinals Add Kicker Rodrigo Blankenship To Practice Squad |url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-add-kicker-rodrigo-blankenship-to-practice-squad |access-date=2022-10-18 |website=AZCardinals.com |language=en-US}} He signed a reserve/future contract on January 11, 2023.{{cite web|title=Bernhard Seikovits Among 14 'Futures' Cardinals Sign For 2023|url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/bernhard-seikovits-among-14-futures-cardinals-sign-for-2023|author=Urban, Darren|website=AZCardinals.com|date=January 11, 2023}} Lynch was released by the Cardinals on May 15.{{Cite web |title=Cardinals Sign Veteran Punter Matt Haack |url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-sign-veteran-punter-matt-haack |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=AZCardinals.com }}
=Los Angeles Chargers (first stint)=
On July 28, 2023, Lynch signed with the Los Angeles Chargers.{{Cite web |title=Los Angeles Chargers Sign Blake Lynch |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/los-angeles-chargers-sign-blake-lynch |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=Chargers.com }} He was waived on August 29, and re-signed to the practice squad on October 24.{{cite web|title=Los Angeles Chargers Reduce Roster to 53 Players|url=https://www.chargers.com/news/los-angeles-chargers-reduce-roster-to-53-players-2023|website=Chargers.com|date=August 29, 2023}} Lynch was signed to the active roster on November 21.{{cite web |title=Los Angeles Chargers Place Tanner Muse on Injured Reserve; Sign Blake Lynch to Active Roster |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/los-angeles-chargers-place-tanner-muse-on-injured-reserve-sign-blake-lynch-to-ac |website=chargers.com |access-date=22 November 2023}}
=Seattle Seahawks=
On August 5, 2024, Lynch signed with the Seattle Seahawks.{{cite web|title=Seahawks Sign LB Blake Lynch|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-sign-lb-blake-lynch|author=Boyle, John|website=Seahawks.com|date=August 5, 2024}} He was released on August 27.{{cite web|title=Seahawks Make Roster Moves, Establish Initial 2024 53-Man Roster|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-make-roster-moves-establish-initial-2024-53-man-roster|author=Boyle, John|website=Seahawks.com|date=August 27, 2024}}
=Los Angeles Chargers (second stint)=
On September 24, 2024, Lynch signed with the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad.{{cite web |last1=Peterson |first1=Michael |title=Chargers sign LB Blake Lynch, WR Jalen Reagor to practice squad |url=https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/2024/9/24/24253463/chargers-blake-lynch-jalen-reagor-vikings-eagles-patriots |website=SB Nation |access-date=25 September 2024}} He was released on October 15.{{cite web |last1=Borquez |first1=Gavino |title=Chargers sign TE McCallan Castles to practice squad |url=https://chargerswire.usatoday.com/2024/10/15/chargers-roster-practice-squad-mccallan-castles/ |website=Chargers Wire |access-date=16 October 2024}}
=Las Vegas Raiders=
On October 16, 2024, Lynch signed with the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad.{{cite web |last1=Owen |first1=Carter |title=Raiders sign LB Blake Lynch to practice squad |url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-sign-blake-lynch-linebacker-to-practice-squad-nfl-transactions-2024 |website=raiders.com |access-date=17 October 2024}} He was released on November 19.
=Kansas City Chiefs=
On December 30, 2024, Lynch was signed to the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad.{{cite web|title=Chiefs add linebacker to practice squad|url=https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2024/12/30/24332454/chiefs-add-linebacker-to-practice-squad|work=Arrowhead Pride|date=December 30, 2024}} He was released on January 7, 2025.{{cite web |last1=Ediger |first1=Jon |title=Chiefs release standout LB, re-sign speedy WR |url=https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2025/01/07/chiefs-release-blake-lynch-sign-montrell-washington/ |website=Chiefs Wire |access-date=8 January 2025}} On March 3, Lynch re-signed with the Chiefs.{{Cite web|title=Chiefs re-sign LB Blake Lynch|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/chiefs-re-sign-lb-blake-lynch|access-date=March 5, 2025|website=nbcsports.com|language=en}} On May 3, Lynch was waived by the Chiefs.{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Charean |title=Chiefs cut DE BJ Thompson, LB Blake Lynch |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/chiefs-cut-de-bj-thompson-lb-blake-lynch |website=NBC Sports |access-date=6 May 2025}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://baylorbears.com/sports/football/roster/blake-lynch/9313 Baylor Bears football bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lynch, Blake}}
Category:Sportspeople from Gilmer, Texas
Category:Players of American football from Upshur County, Texas
Category:American football linebackers
Category:American football defensive backs
Category:Baylor Bears football players
Category:Minnesota Vikings players
Category:Arizona Cardinals players
Category:Los Angeles Chargers players
Category:Seattle Seahawks players