Jim Kleinsasser Fantasy News

Tuesday, May 24, 2011, 3:53pm

One Vikings veteran to watch this offseason will be TE Jim Kleinsasser. The mainstay might not have a roster spot locked up with the addition of second-round pick Kyle Rudolph and with the team needing to make a decision on Visanthe Shiancoe, whose deal has one more year left

Saturday, April 30, 2011, 4:19pm

On Friday night, the Vikings returned to their usual means of operation and stayed true to their board by selecting Notre Dame tight end Kyle Rudolph in the second round. However, the decision was a bit of a surprise considering that of the Vikings' many positional needs, tight end didn't seem to be near the top of the list.

Rudolph joins a depth chart that includes starter Visanthe Shiancoe, Jim Kleinsasser and Jeff Dugan. All three will be entering the final season of their contracts, and Rudolph's presence likely means it will be difficult for Dugan to make the roster. Kleinsasser is 34 and will be entering his 13th NFL season, and it's uncertain how much longer he will play after 2011.

Rudolph, who declared for the draft after his junior season, likely would have been a first-round pick if he hadn't suffered a severe hamstring injury last season. He played the first six games with a sore right hamstring before tearing two tendons off the bone against Pittsburgh. He underwent season-ending surgery in mid-October.

Rudolph admits that, in retrospect, he should have shut himself down until what had been a hamstring pull was healed "instead of trying to be a tough guy and grind through it."

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier and offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave envision the potential of having the 6-6 Rudolph and 6-4 Shiancoe on the field at the same time in some packages.

"[That] would really create some mismatches for defenses," Frazier said. "In our game, that's a big part of what we are trying to do, create mismatches."

Saturday, September 19, 2009, 3:54pm

Vikings special teams ace Heath Farwell (hamstring) is listed as questionable on the injury report released this afternoon. Farwell was limited in practice all week. Starting right guard Anthony Herrera (back) is listed as probable, along with tight end Jim Kleinsasser (left hand). Herrera and Kleinsasser practiced fully today. Linebacker Erin Henderson (calf) is out.
If Farwell is sidelined at Detroit, that would mean the Vikings would be missing two important players on their special teams coverage units, along with Henderson.

According to NFL guideliness, players listed as questionable have a 50 percent chance of playing, and players listed as probable are a virtual certainty to play. Players listed as doubtful have only a 25 percent chance of playing.
UPDATE: The Lions have released their injury report. Here it is below:

Doubtful: Defensive end Cliff Avril (hamstring), quarterback Drew Stanton (knee).

Questionable: Defensive tackle Andre Fluellen (knee), cornerback Eric King (shoulder).

Probable: Cornerback Phillip Buchanon (neck), defensive tackle Grady Jackson (knee), cornerback William James (foot), guard Daniel Loper (knee), kicker Jason Hanson (knee).

Friday, September 11, 2009, 9:36pm

Vikings TE Jim Kleinsasser (left hand) is probable for Week #1.

Vikings Berrian, Kleinsasser practice
Friday, September 11, 2009, 5:25pm

Vikings WR Bernard Berrian (hamstring) and TE Jim Kleinsasser (hand) both practicing at start but remains to be seen how much they do.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009, 7:00pm

The only players who did not appear to fully participate in practice Tuesday were WR Bernard Berrian and TE Jim Kleinsasser. Offensive lineman Artis Hicks was excused to tend to a family matter.

Berrian is slowly starting to work his way back. Sidelined since injuring his hamstring in the exhibition opener Aug. 14 in Indianapolis, Berrian has spent the past couple of days catching passes from Favre after practice.

"It was all right," Berrian said. "It wasn't anything really different. We've been doing this for a couple of days now.

"It's just trying to get back into the flow of things," he said, "and getting in and out of breaks and get my conditioning back."

Berrian estimated he's running at 40 to 50 percent. He said he's unsure whether he will play against the Texans. Asked if he would return to practice later this week, he said, "I have no idea."

Kleinsasser, who appears to have a splint or brace on his left hand, doesn't know when he will return, either.

"Any time you miss time, it's frustrating. Just annoying," said Kleinsasser, who suffered the injury in the exhibition opener against Indianapolis.