The Vikings and 49ers opened up the season against each other and they got back in touch on Tuesday to make a trade.
Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman announced that the team sent linebacker Gerald Hodges to the Niners in exchange for center Nick Easton and a sixth-round draft pick.
Hodges started three of the first four games for Minnesota this season, making 20 tackles, and played in 25 other games since being selected in the fourth round of the 2013 draft. Spielman said, via Ben Goessling of ESPN.com, that the team likes what they’ve seen from 2015 second-round pick Eric Kendricks and decided to use their depth at linebacker to shore up another spot.
Minnesota’s starting center John Sullivan is on injured reserve with the designation to return, leaving Joe Berger to start the first four games of the season. Easton, who was acquired in a trade with the Ravens in early September, gives them another option at that spot.
Hodges started at middle linebacker for the Vikings and joins an inside linebacking group with the Niners that includes NaVorro Bowman, Michael Wilhoite, Shayne Skov and Nick Bellore.