Farwell News Expected Today

Linebacker Heath Farwell had an MRI on his right knee Saturday and the team is expected to give an update today. That update likely won't be good.

Linebacker Heath Farwell made the first two tackles of his first series with the second-team defense Friday night. Not too many plays later, Farwell suffered a right knee injury with 3:46 left in the first quarter. He was helped off the field and then taken to the locker room on a cart.

Farwell had a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on his knee Saturday and the results of that are expected to be announced today. The news is expected to be a torn anterior cruciate ligament that ends Farwell's season. If he is placed on injured reserve, as expected, he would become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. He was tendered and signed for $1.4 million this offseason as a restricted free agent.

During his brief field time Friday before suffering the injury, Farwell looked like he was re-establishing himself as a leader of the second-team defense, something he did last preseason as well.

He had three interceptions and an onside kick recovery in training camp.

Last year, Farwell was named the Special Teams MVP by his teammates. He played in all 16 games, almost exclusively on special teams, where he led the Vikings with 25 tackles. He had his first career fumble recovery against Arizona.

In 2005, he was one of the final cuts before the season began but was immediately signed to the practice squad. He was signed from the practice squad Oct. 22 and appeared in seven games, recording 13 special teams tackles. He was inactive for the final four games of the regular season.

The depth at linebacker was one of the interesting battles of training camp and it now looks like at least one of the younger linebackers - undrafted rookies Erin Henderson and J. Leman or second-year player Rufus Alexander - could have a chance to make the 53-man roster if the Vikings don't bring in another veteran linebacker. Vinny Ciurciu and Derrick Pope add some veteran presence already while backing up starters Chad Greenway, Ben Leber and E.J. Henderson.