The Vikings have addressed two injury situations with a couple of moves today. After learning that starting left guard Nick Easton suffered an ankle injury on Saturday against the Packers, the team has placed him on injured reserve, reports Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com. In a corresponding move, Minnesota has signed free agent long snapper Jeff Overbaugh to replace their injured starter Kevin McDermott for the time being.
McDermott, 28, sustained a shoulder injury in Week 16, which made him questionable for the Vikings regular season finale on Sunday. However, the team did not want to place him on the IR because there was a chance he could return to the postseason. Overbaugh was part of a group of 10 free agent long snappers that worked out for the Vikings today.
While the roster moves do help the Vikings cover their bases in terms of their special teams unit, losing Easton for the season will hurt the team’s offense a bit. The 25-year-old was certainly not one of the best at his position, ranking 61st among all guards in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. However, it’s definitely a challenge to adjust to a new offensive line this late in the season.
The most immediate replacement on the roster appears to be Jeremiah Sirles, but the Vikings also have Danny Isidora to add further depth to the line in the weeks to come. Minnesota will have a chance to clinch a first round bye with a win over the Bears in Week 17.