Vikings remove Shamar Stephen from Non-Football Injury List

Another of the five players that started Training Camp unable to practice with his Minnesota Vikings teammates is back in the fold as of yesterday.

The team has removed defensive tackle Shamar Stephen from the Non-Football Injury list, and he is now back practicing after missing the first week of this year’s camp.

Stephen was the Vikings’ first free agent signing this offseason, returning to the Vikings after a one-year stint with the Seattle Seahawks. Stephen spent the first four seasons of his career with the Vikings, appearing in 31 games with the team after being drafted in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

Prior to his injury. . .which was never fully disclosed, outside of Mike Zimmer saying that it was “very minor”. . .Stephen was the leader in the clubhouse to take over the three-technique tackle spot that had been vacated with the departure of Sheldon Richardson after just one season. His absence has allowed some younger players to rotate into that spot, and we’ll see if any of them have surpassed Stephen on the depth chart.

With Stephen returning to practice, just three Vikings remain unable to practice with the team. Both cornerback Mike Hughes and tight end David Morgan remain on the Physically Unable to Perform List, while defensive end Tashawn Bower is still on the Non-Football Injury List.