The Minnesota Vikings made two more roster moves Monday to get closer to the 75-player roster limit before Tuesday’s deadline.
The Vikings placed offensive tackle Conner Bykowski on season-ending injured reserve. He suffered a torn pectoral muscle Aug. 15 against Tampa Bay. Bykowski, an Eden Prairie native, recently underwent surgery.
The Vikings also placed cornerback Josh Robinson on the reserve/physically unable to perform list. Robinson, who has missed all of camp and preseason, is also dealing with a partially torn pectoral muscle. He will miss at least the first six weeks of the regular season.
Josh Robinson, according to PUP rules, doesn't count against roster limit. Moves on Robinson and Bykowski drop Vikings to 76. 1 more by Tues
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) August 31, 2015
Robinson will be eligible to begin practicing with the team on Oct. 19.
That means the Vikings still have to make one more move before the deadline on Tuesday afternoon, which is something Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said is never easy to do.
“Yesterday was a hard day,” Zimmer told reporters Monday. “Joe Banyard is a terrific kid, he’s busted his rear end around here, had some good runs last year. … It’s hard because they’re part of us and we wish them the best and hope things work out for them.”
The Vikings cut 11 players on Sunday, including Banyard. He played in 15 games for the Vikings last season, running the ball 21 times for 88 yards. Banyard also caught nine passes for 62 yards.
Minnesota’s roster now stands at 76. The Vikings need to make one more move to get down to 75.
