Minnesota Vikings release WR Mike Wallace, re-sign LB Audie Cole

Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer likes his young receivers enough that the team decided to release veteran wide receiver Mike Wallace on Tuesday.

The Vikings also re-signed linebacker Audie Cole and waived offensive lineman Austin Wentworth.

Wallace, acquired in a trade with Miami last March, was due $10 million in 2016 as part of a five-year, $60 million contract he signed with the Dolphins in 2013.

Zimmer said in February the Vikings are pleased with their receiving corps, led Stefon Diggs, who totaled 52 receptions for 720 yards as a rookie.

Last season, Wallace had 39 catches for 473 yards and two touchdowns with the Vikings. In seven years with the Vikings, Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers, he has 414 career receptions for 6,307 yards and 49 touchdowns.

Cole was due to become an unrestricted free agent Wednesday but was considered a priority for the team to re-sign despite finishing last season on injured reserve with a fractured ankle suffered in November. Terms of his new deal were not disclosed by the team.

In four seasons with Minnesota, Cole has played in 41 regular-season games with seven starts, compiling 67 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, seven quarterback hits and four passes defensed.

With the uncertain future of veteran Chad Greenway, who is not under contract, Cole could be in the mix to compete for the third starting linebacker job next to Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr next season or by 2017.

Wentworth, who signed as a college free agent after the 2014 draft, played in seven games during the 2014 season for the Vikings.