Minnesota Vikings Officially Place Antoine Winfield On Injured Reserve, Sign Benny Sapp

After returning to action on Monday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers following four weeks of missed play, coernerback Antoine Winfield left the game with a broken clavicle. It's now official that he's been placed on injured reserve, according to Adam Schefter:

Vikings placed CB Antoine Winfield on IR and signed CB Benny Sapp.    

Winfield was injured in the second half of the 45-7 loss to the Packers, the biggest margin of defeat against their rivals in 102 games. Benny Sapp has spent time with the Vikings previously and was likely the only player called to come and work out. He played with Minnesota in 2008 and 2009, but was traded to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for wide receiver Greg Camarillo. Sapp was released by the Dolphins earlier this season after a game against the New England Patriots, a game in which Sapp was part of the play in which Wes Welker scored on a 99-yard touchdown. 

The folks over at the Daily Norseman don't expect a ton, but they are optimistic that Sapp at least provides an upgrade to the depleted secondary, which was torn up by Aaron Rodgers on Monday night.

Benny Sapp Could Replace Antoine Winfield On Minnesota Vikings Roster

The Minnesota Vikings will be without the services of one defensive back as the Antoine Winfield injury that occurred on Monday Night Football will keep the veteran out for the rest of the season. A familiar name might replace him, however, as there are numerous reports indicating Benny Sapp is headed to Minneapolis to tryout and take a physical.

Sapp played with the Vikings during the 2008 and 2009 seasons, but the 5-foot-9 cornerback was traded to the Miami Dolphins during the summer of 2010 for wide receiver Greg Camarillo.  Sapp actually started for the Dolphins to begin this season, but he was released after giving up a 99-yard play to Wes Welker when the Dolphins played the New England Patriots.

Christopher Gates put the pending Sapp acquisition into perspective over at Daily Norseman.

Sapp isn't expected to be a miracle worker or anything, to be certain, but it would be hard for him not to provide an upgrade to the secondary at this point.

If Sapp is able to ace his tryout and physical, the Vikings would likely add him to the active roster immediately.

Antoine Winfield Injury Update: Cornerback Officially Out For Season

Monday night's trip to Green Bay was especially costly for the Minnesota Vikings. Cornerback Antoine Winfield came back after missing the last four games, but only made it through the first half before his season was over. Winfield suffered a broken clavicle in the 45-7 loss to the Packers, and is now done for the year:

He was injured in the second half of the 45-7 loss at Lambeau Field, where the Packers shredded the Vikings' secondary for four touchdown passes and quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 23 of his 30 passes.

To make matters worse, safety Husain Abdullah may also be lost for a significant amount of time. Abdullah suffered his second concussion of the season, and will likely be brought along slowly with only seven games left on the schedule.

The injury to Winfield casts his future in doubt, as the 34-year-old has two years and $14.25 million left on his contract at the end of this season.

Antoine Winfield Injury: Cornerback Likely Done For Season With Broken Collarbone