TE Situation Bleak

As reported last week, the Jim Kleinsasser injury and Byron Chamberlain suspension have left the Vikes crippled at the TE spot. That took an ugly turn Friday, as that depletion forced a cut to field a team at the position.

Steve Farmer doesn't have a lot of kids wearing his jersey. He may never have kids outside of family wearing his number. But, before Friday, he was a key member of the Vikings preseason roster.

With Jim Kleinsasser out two weeks (or much longer) and Byron Chamberlain out the first four games for an ephedra positive test, the tight end position is depleted big time for the Vikes. Farmer, who was having a solid camp and competing for an opening-day roster spot, was diagnosed with a torn left ACL Friday -- likely ending his season.

As a result, the Vikings announced the cut of RB Jeremy Allen. He will be replaced on the roster by TE Matt Huebner, a St. Cloud State (Minn.) player cut after minicamp in May. It seems to be another sign that the injury to Kleinsasser is serious enough that Plan B (or C or D) must be implemented as a precaution.

GAMEDAY NOTES
* Jags coach Jack Del Rio will make his head coaching debut tonight.
* Del Rio and Vikings coach Mike Tice were teammates for three years with the Vikings. Both are unconventional head coaches, since neither had a head coaching job on their resumes before being inked to their current deals. In fact, the only coordinator positions either had was Del Rio, who served as Carolina's defensive coordinator last year.
* For those with a football memory, Del Rio came to the Vikings via the NFL's antiquated Plan B free agency, which left fringe players unprotected before full-blown free agency changed the face of the league.
* Three former Vikings will try to make the Jags' final 53-man roster starting tonight -- WR Matt Hatchette, TE Matt Cercone and OL Jay Humphrey.