The Vikings likely need to take two players off their 53-man roster in the next several weeks. For now, though, there is continued talk from coaches about one who could be added to the roster.
The Vikings likely will need to create room soon for cornerback Josh Robinson, who is on the physically unable to perform list, and center John Sullivan, who is on injured reserve with a designation to return.
Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer on Wednesday touched upon undrafted rookie safety Anthony Harris possibly being called up from the practice squad. Defensive coordinator George Edwards added to that Thursday.
“Is it a possibility it could happen soon?” Edwards said. “It’s a possibility it could. But right now we’re just trying to keep moving forward, keep working these guys, keep competing every day and hopefully just keep getting better from day to day.”
Robinson, who has a partially torn pectoral muscle, expects to return to practice next week and then would be eligible to be restored to the roster whenever the Vikings might deem fit. Sullivan, recovering from back surgery, expects to return to practice Wednesday, when he is first eligible, and play Nov. 8 against St. Louis, the first game for which he can return.
Another player Minnesota might like to squeeze onto the roster is linebacker Brandon Watts, who is on the practice squad. Vikings general manager Rick Spielman lauded Watts last week after the Vikings traded middle linebacker Gerald Hodges, leaving them with just five linebackers.
Eric Kendricks will replace Gerald Hodges in the lineup. Zimmer, though, said Kendricks won’t have the headset middle linebackers usually wear to hear play calls from the coach.
“(Anthony) Barr does,” Zimmer said about the outside linebacker. “It’s really not a big deal. Everybody makes it bigger than it is.”
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