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It’s been almost two full weeks since the Minnesota Vikings had to place an offensive starter on injured reserve, but if what Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network is reporting is true, it might be time to reset the sign.
#Vikings believe T Andre Smith’s elbow, which kept him out of practice again, may be enough to warrant placing him IR. Another starter lost?
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 7, 2016
Smith left Monday night’s 24-10 victory over the New York Giants with an arm injury. He was replaced at right tackle by Jeremiah Sirles. . .and, if we’re being honest, Sirles looked better in his replacement stint than Smith has looked all season.
Minnesota signed the former #6 overall pick to a one-year contract this off-season, and the thought was that he was going to come in and compete with Phil Loadholt for the starting job at right tackle. Loadholt’s retirement pretty much handed the job to Smith, as the Vikings didn’t appear to give him much competition during camp and in preseason games.
If Smith does go on injured reserve, it would mean that the Vikings have lost both of their opening day starting tackles within the first quarter of the season. One would assume that Sirles would continue to start in his place if Smith is shelved for the rest of the season.
We’ll have the final injury report for both the Vikings and the Houston Texans here for you when they come out later this afternoon.