St. Paul, MN (Best E Casino) - Minnesota Vikings starting defensive end Kenechi Udeze has reportedly been diagnosed with leukemia.

KSTP Eyewitness News in St. Paul reported Monday night that Udeze is undergoing tests and that his doctors are trying to determine the severity of the leukemia, a cancer of the blood which starts in bone marrow. It could be several weeks before those test results are known.

Udeze, 24, played three seasons at USC and was a member of Southern California's 2003 national championship squad. He was selected by Minnesota in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft.

Udeze played in all 16 games for the Vikings last season, recording 47 tackles and five sacks. He has registered 117 tackles and 11 sacks in 51 career contests.