Aug 27, 2011; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings safety Husain Abdullah (39) walks the sidelines in the game against the Dallas Cowboys at the Metrodome. The Cowboys win 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-US PRESSWIRE

We won’t be seeing Husain Abdullah in the NFL in 2012. The free agent safety, who rose from UDFA status to become a reliable player with the Vikings, has elected to take the year off to fulfill his obligations as a Muslim, including attending the Haj in Mecca in October. Abdullah’s brother Hamza has also decided to put his NFL career on hold in the name of his Islamic faith.

For Husain there might be more behind this decision than simply his faith. Last year he suffered a season-ending concussion, the second major concussion event of his career, and after the season he reportedly went back-and-forth on whether to continue in the NFL and face further brain injury.  The Vikings were willing to welcome him back if he did elect to go on playing, but obviously Abdullah has other things on his mind besides football. He may decide to resume his career in the future, but after two concussions and a whole year off? Who knows if we’ll ever see him on the field again.

Had Abdullah returned to Minnesota, he would’ve been thrown into the mix for starting safety along with rookies Harrison Smith and Robert Blanton, 2011 sometime-starter Jamarca Sanford and 2011 draft pick Mistral Raymond. Now, with Abdullah off the table, the Vikings may turn to former Colts safety Melvin Bullitt as an extra option in the defensive backfield. The Vikings have reportedly shown interest in Bullitt, who played for new defensive coordinator Alan Williams in Indianapolis.

To Husain and Hamza Abdullah, have a safe pilgrimage.

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Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Erin Henderson (50) before the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE

NFL free agency starts on March 13, only 33 days away. So now is the time to dissect our pending free agents. After the resigning of Pat Brown, the Vikings have 17 free agents to be.

Since we’re all Vikings fans and in need of some good news, I’ll start there. There are only four starters on this list: EJ and Erin Henderson, Husain Abdullah, and Visanthe Shiancoe. So not to worry, the team that went 3-13 and tied for the worst record in Vikings history will almost completely return! Oh, wait. Well, it’s news anyway.

In that list of four starters, the only guy I see as a lock for returning is Erin Henderson. With two-thirds of the Vikings’ linebacking core set to be free agents, at least one will need to be resigned. It could get a little awkward if they split up the brothers, but the NFL is a business and Erin is younger and healthier.

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Peterson is only one of several important offensive players who landed on Friday’s injury report. Kyle Rudolph, who has begun breaking out the last few games after being mostly invisible for much of the season, is also doubtful with a bruised quad. Percy Harvin and Visanthe Shiancoe are questionable, while Christian Ponder is listed as probable with a knee thing. Charlie Johnson is also probable but frankly who cares?

On the defensive side, Chris Cook and Husain Abdullah are out. Abdullah misses his second straight game with a concussion.

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