EAGAN, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings have lost linebacker Blake Cashman for at least a month because of a hamstring injury he suffered Monday night in the team's 27-24 victory over the Chicago Bears. The Vikings placed Cashman, their primary defensive signal-caller, and running back/kick returner Ty Chandler (knee) on injured reserve Thursday, sidelining both for at least the next four games.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Bills will be without kicker Tyler Bass for a minimum of four weeks after he was placed on injured reserve on Friday. The move means that veteran Matt Prater, who the team signed to the practice squad on Thursday, is now set to kick for the Bills in the season opener vs. the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC).
New York Jets offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker suffered a torn triceps that will land him on injured reserve and likely end his season just days before kick-off for Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at MetLife Stadium. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport was first to report the severity of the injury on Thursday morning, after it came to light a day earlier that the 26-year-old guard had sustained a serious arm injury.
Among the outcasts was The Hulk, as incredible as that may seem for undrafted rookie Sebastian Valdez, a defensive tackle who got that nickname from offensive linemen. Among the procedural shenanigans: punter Thomas Morstead got released, almost assuredly for just 24 hours so a player can slide Wednesday on to non-season-ending Injured Reserve, such as wide receiver Jacob Cowing. Almost half of the roster is devoted to the trenches. They've kept 10 offensive linemen (yes to rookie Drew Moss, no to guard Nick Zakelj).