Another starting Vikings offensive tackle is headed for injured reserve.
Andre Smith to injured reserve as Vikings work out free agent OT Jake Long
Right tackle Andre Smith is set to undergo surgery Tuesday on his injured right triceps, according to Vikings coach Mike Zimmer. He was injured against the Giants.
October 10, 2016 at 7:48PM
Andre Smith is set to undergo surgery Tuesday on his injured right triceps, according to head coach Mike Zimmer. Smith suffered the injury on the sixth snap of the Vikings' win last week against the Giants.
The Vikings offense was already playing without starting left tackle Matt Kalil, who is done for the season after undergoing hip surgery last month.
So the Vikings worked out free agent tackle Jake Long, the former No. 1 overall pick from the 2008 draft, on Monday morning, according to Zimmer. Long, 31, has not started a game since 2014, during which his season ended due to a second torn anterior cruciate ligament in less than a year.
Long will likely be one of a few free agents visiting the tackle-needy Vikings during this bye week.
The latest injury news comes after right guard Brandon Fusco left Sunday's win against the Texans with a concussion. He now needs to clear the NFL protocol before returning to practice in full.
Sam Bradford's 123.1 passer rating against the Texans, his best in four starts for the Vikings, came mostly behind an offensive line featuring three replacements in T.J. Clemmings, Zac Kerin and Jeremiah Sirles.
The Texans hit Bradford eight times (two sacks) on 32 dropbacks.
Mike Conley was in Minneapolis, where he sounded the Gjallarhorn at the Vikings game, on Sunday during the robbery.
