EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Defensive tackle Fred Evans signed his one-year tender to return to the Minnesota Vikings on Monday.

The Vikings put a second-round tender on the restricted free agent in February. That means they would have been awarded a second-round draft pick if another team signed him.

Evans served as the primary backup to Pro Bowler Pat Williams last season. He started the final two regular season games and the playoff game against Philadelphia while Williams worked through legal problems and an injury.

The Vikings almost had to bring Evans back because Williams' challenge of a positive drug test has yet to be resolved in court. If he loses his case, he and fellow tackle Kevin Williams will be suspended for the first four games of next season.