Minnesota Vikings Place Michael Mauti On Injured Reserve; Sign Carter Bykowski

Mauti Gras 2014 has, officially, come to an end.

The Minnesota Vikings have announced that they have placed linebacker Michael Mauti on injured reserve, ending his season. Mauti appeared in nine of the Vikings' thirteen games this season. He played almost exclusively on special teams this season, and he delivered what might have been the hit of the year for the Vikings when he attempted to murderdeathkill Tampa Bay Buccaneers' punt returner Trindon Holliday.

To fill Mauti's spot on the roster, the Vikings signed offensive tackle Carter Bykowski from the practice squad of the San Francisco 49ers. Bykowski was drafted by the Niners in the seventh round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Iowa State University. He spent the 2013 season on the San Francisco practice squad, and wound up back there again this season.

Bykowski played his high school ball at Eden Prairie High School, which means that he played for head coach Mike Grant, son of legendary Vikings' coach Bud Grant.

As the Vikings signed him from the San Francisco practice squad, he will have a spot on the team's active roster for the final three games of the 2014 season.