The Vikings have yet another serious injury problem.
On the same day that the team announced running back Adrian Peterson will have knee surgery (and reportedly will miss 3-4 months), tackle Matt Kalil has been placed on injured reserve.
Kalil, the fourth overall pick in the 2012 draft, is in the option year of his rookie deal. He’s eligible to return to game action in eight weeks.
That said, only one player on IR can return each year. So if running back Adrian Peterson lands on IR, either he or Kalil won’t be eligible to return. To have both play later in the year, the Vikings would have to keep Peterson on the 53-man roster.
The absence of Kalil likely means that T.J. Clemmings will slide into the starting spot. He started all 16 games in 2015 at right tackle, in place of Phil Loadholt.
The Vikings likely will explore adding another tackle, either via trade or free agency. However, good ones aren’t readily available.