MINNEAPOLIS -- With the Minnesota Vikings' safety depth in question, they made an addition to their practice squad who should already have some familiarity with the team.
The Vikings signed rookie safety John Lowdermilk -- who was born in Edina, Minn., while his father Kirk was the team's center for eight seasons -- to their practice squad, releasing linebacker Terrance Plummer. Lowdermilk, an Iowa product, was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Diego Chargers in May and released in the team's final round of roster cuts.
His addition to the group means Anthony Harris -- the rookie free agent the Vikings might have pursued with the most fervor -- could be on his way up to the active roster if either Harrison Smith or Andrew Sendejo is unable to return from knee injuries in time for Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks. Robert Blanton and Antone Exum were the Vikings' only healthy safeties by the end of Sunday's win in Atlanta, and Sendejo had an MRI on his knee, coach Mike Zimmer said Monday. With the Vikings' safety depth possibly being stretched this week, adding another option to the group makes sense.
Lowdermilk recorded eight tackles for the Chargers in the preseason and received All-Big Ten honorable mention last year.
