Minnesota Vikings

Linebacker Audie Cole fractures ankle, out for season

Cole fractured his ankle with 7:44 left in the fourth quarter and was carted off the field.

By Jason Gonzalez

November 8, 2015 at 11:15PM

$Vikings middle linebacker Audie Cole (57) was helped onto a cart after he fractured his right ankle in the fourth quarter Sunday afternoon. ] JEFF WHEELER � jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Minnesota Vikings beat the St. Louis Rams 21-18 in overtime on a 40 yard Blair Walsh field goal Sunday afternoon, November 8, 2015 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.$

Vikings middle linebacker Audie Cole (57) was helped onto a cart after he fractured his right ankle in the fourth quarter Sunday afternoon. ] JEFF WHEELER � jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Minnesota Vikings beat the St. Louis Rams 21-18 in overtime on a 40 yard Blair Walsh field goal Sunday afternoon, November 8, 2015 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. (Brian Stensaas — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The Vikings lost linebacker Audie Cole for the season in Sunday's 21-18 overtime victory against the St. Louis Rams.

Cole fractured his ankle with 7:44 left in the fourth quarter and was carted off the field.

The backup linebacker got the start on Sunday in place of injured starting middle linebacker Eric Kendricks (ribs). Cole combined for two tackles before suffering the injury.

Brandon Watts filled in for Cole and had one tackle.

Starting strongside linebacker Anthony Barr was wearing a cast on his left arm after the game and had his bag carried by Vikings staff as he left the locker room. Barr was listed questionable for Sunday's game with a low back injury.

"I think Kendricks will get back and I think we'll be fine," Zimmer said. "[Edmond] Robinson is doing a good job [at the linebacker position]. Watts is a doing a good job. We're not going to cry because we have injuries. We're going to get the next guy in there and go fight."

The Vikings were banged up in their sixth victory of the season with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and veteran cornerback Terence Newman both leaving the game for concussion evaluations. Neither returned.

Bridgewater was seen in the locker room after the game smiling and joking with teammates despite taking a cheap shot to the head from Rams cornerback Lamarcus Joyner early in the fourth quarter.