Vikings Sign OT Carter Bykowski Off 49ers Practice Squad
By Dan Zinski
Another offensive lineman going down with injury means another roster move for the Vikings.
More from Minnesota Vikings News
- Former Vikings first-round pick could reportedly return to NFC North
- Bears analyst has extremely embarrassing Kirk Cousins take
- 6 Vikings who (maybe) won’t make the 53-man roster in 2023
- Predicting what the Vikings will do in the 2023 NFL Draft based on 2022
- Vikings have reportedly begun extension talks with T.J. Hockenson
With Charlie Johnson likely headed to the shelf after suffering a knee injury Sunday vs. the Jets, the Vikings have beefed up their depth by bringing in OT Carter Bykowski.
The 6-7/306 pound Bykowski was drafted in the 7th round by San Francisco in 2013 and has spent the last two seasons on the 49ers’ practice squad. Bykowski played his college ball for Iowa State after playing high school ball for Eden Prairie in Minnesota.
To make room for Bykowski, the Vikings placed LB Michael Mauti on season ending injured reserve.
Mauti played in Sunday’s game against New York and I can’t recall him suffering an injury. But he must have gotten hurt because now he’s on IR. You know the team would never lie about a guy being hurt just to clear a roster spot.
The injury to Charlie Johnson means we’ll likely see Vlad Ducasse at left guard for the remainder of the season. The Vikings also have rookie David Yankey on the roster but seem reluctant to activate him.
J’Marcus Webb and Austin Wentworth are also available as backup tackles. The Vikings now have backups at three of five offensive line positions. And a lot of fans wish a backup would get a chance at left tackle as well.