Having “lost” and already-lost Sharrif Floyd for the year, the Vikings have also lost the services of Tom Johnson, per Tom Pelissero of USA Today. He has been one of the best pass-rushing tackles in the NFL—though in rotational snaps. He was platooning with Shamar Stephen to replace Floyd.
He was getting pressure on 10.1 percent of his pass-rushing snaps, an incredible number for an interior player. He was a member of the most productive lineup that the Vikings have put up in the last several weeks. According to Sam Ekstrom in the Locked On Vikings podcast, the Vikings got more sacks out of a defensive line containing Everson Griffen, Tom Johnson, Brian Robison and Danielle Hunter.
He himself has two sacks on the year, but a great number of QB hits and has flushed quarterbacks into enterprising defensive ends.
Expect the Vikings to promote training camp standout Toby Johnson from the practice squad to the 53-man roster—he was briefly promoted when Sharrif Floyd was sent to injured reserve, but demoted to make room for Adrian Peterson.
The year is almost over for a Vikings season that started disastrously, gave fans hope, and (nearly) ended just as disastrously. This is just one more stride in the death march that seems to characterize the Vikings season.
