Minnesota Vikings Lose Nick Easton After Guard Fractures Ankle
The Minnesota Vikings announced late Saturday night that left guard Nick Easton was lost for the rest of the season due to a fractured right ankle suffered during the first quarter of the Vikings games on Saturday against the Green Bay Packers.
Easton will undergo surgery that will end his season. The injury occurred in Minnesota’s 16-0 win with just over three minutes remaining in the first quarter, during a play that Latavius Murray gained eight yards rushing.
Trainers ran onto the field to attend to Easton for several minutes and when he left the field, the left guard could not put weight on the ankle as he was helped him to the sideline.
Saturday was just the first time since October 9 that each of the five starting linemen on offense for Minnesota started together in the same game.
Jeremiah Sirles, a backup guard took Easton’s place after the injury. Easton was not the only Vikings player who sustained an injury in Saturday’s game against Green Bay.
Long snapper Kevin McDermott is scheduled to have an MRI after he injured his shoulder during the second quarter and missed the rest of the game. The long-snap duties of McDermott were taken over by David Morgan during the second half.
Morgan snapped twice during field goals in the second quarter that were fine as the Vikings converted the two kicks. Morgan also made a pair of long snaps on punts, which his coaches said were very good and showed a good deal about the depth the team has.
Defensive tackle Shamar Stephen was taken off the field on a cart after injuring an ankle late in the first half. On the play Stephen was injured, Jordy Nelson caught a 25-yard pass that was eventually overturned on a challenge by the Vikings.
Minnesota with the win moved to 12-3 on the season and one step closer to clinching a bye in the first round. The Vikings are a half game behind the Philadelphia Eagles for best record in the NFC and home field advantage during the postseason with one game left in the regular season next week.
