Vikings MLB Jasper Brinkley (groin, hip) is healthy heading into Week 1.

Brinkley missed all of 2011 with a hip injury, and was limited throughout the offseason program. He avoided setbacks in camp, however, and racked up four tackles and two sacks in the third preseason game. The Vikings are hoping Brinkley can anchor their run defense after E.J. Henderson was allowed to walk in free agency. Brinkley is expected to see limited snaps outside the base defense.

Vikings MLB Jasper Brinkley (groin, hip) insists that he is back to full health.

"I just had a little strain," he said in a Friday interview. "I'm ready to go." Brinkley missed a large chunk of the team's offseason workouts after a groin strain and hip surgery that cost him the entire 2011 season. Coach Leslie Frazier and GM Rick Spielman are on record as being concerned with Brinkley's durability, but he's still in line to work as the team's starting middle linebacker.

The groin injury that kept Vikings MLB Jasper Brinkley out of June minicamp is "minor," according to the St. Paul Pioneer-Press.

Although GM Rick Spielman conceded that durability is a concern following hip surgery, beat writer Jeremy Fowler reports the team is "still banking on him to play a prominent role." Brinkley was merely dealing with minor soreness in minicamp and should be healthy by August.

Vikings GM Rick Spielman acknowledged Sunday that the team is concerned with MLB Jasper Brinkley's durability.

Brinkley missed all of minicamp with a groin injury that may be related to the serious hip injury that cost him the entire 2011 season. "There's some concern there, definitely," Spielman said. "The durability is a question right now." The Vikings may want to look into a free agent such as Gary Brackett ahead of training camp. Brinkley isn't shaping up as a reliable commodity for 2012.

The Vikings don't believe that Jasper Brinkley's current groin injury is related to his 2011 hip surgery.

Brinkley missed the entire 2011 season, so any injury in that area is something to monitor. The Vikings' new middle linebacker is sitting out minicamp. "You can't make him go out there and practice if you know it's going to create some issues for him health-wise, but it does definitely make you concerned," coach Leslie Frazier said.

Nursing a sore groin, Vikings MLB Jasper Brinkley is not participating in this week's minicamp.

Brinkley acknowledges that the injury is related to the hip injury that caused him to sit out the entire 2011 season. It's a concern because Brinkley is slated to be a first-year starter in place of free agent E.J. Henderson. Second-year player Tyrone McKenzie filled in for Brinkley in Tuesday's practice.

The Vikings didn't draft any legitimate middle linebackers, essentially locking in Jasper Brinkley as their starter there.

Rookie Audie Cole projects more as a reserve in the middle and on the strong side, and will focus on special teams. ESPN 1500 Twin Cities projects Brinkley as a two-down player only, with Chad Greenway and Erin Henderson staying on the field as Minnesota's lone two linebackers in the nickel defensive package.

The Vikings are expected to turn their middle linebacker job over to Jasper Brinkley this season.

Vikings GM Rick Spielman says Brinkley is "100% healthy and ready to roll." Minnesota has an opening in the middle with E.J. Henderson hitting free agency. A run stopper who struggles in coverage, Brinkley has played only 18 snaps over the last two seasons and missed the entire 2011 season with a hip injury. Brinkley could flirt with 90 tackles as a starter, but he'll come off the field on passing downs.

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune expects Jasper Brinkley to take over as the starting middle linebacker in 2012, "barring a surprise."

Impending free agent E.J. Henderson, turning 32 in August, is not expected to return to a rebuilding defense. Much like Henderson of 2011, Brinkley is a thumper in the turn game lacking in coverage skills. He's coming off major hip surgery in September. WLB Erin Henderson is also a free agent, leaving his future with the Vikes up in the air.

Vikings placed LB Jasper Brinkley (hip surgery) on injured reserve, ending his season.

Brinkley had the hip surgery on Tuesday. A thumping, two-down linebacker, he would've been E.J. Henderson's primary backup in the middle. Instead, the Vikings will move forward with undersized David Herron at that position.

VIkings LB Jasper Brinkley underwent hip surgery Tuesday.

The Vikings are trying to determine if Brinkley can make it back this season, but they'll likely need his roster spot at some point. The backup linebacker and special teamer is a prime candidate for injured reserve.

Vikings LB Jasper Brinkley may miss the entire season with a hip injury.

Brinkley will reportedly miss "substantial" time and will likely end up on injured reserve if he elects for surgery. Similar to Sidney Rice last year, Brinkley's hip issues stem from an injury sustained late in the previous season. He was headed for a special teams role as E.J. Henderson's backup.

Vikings LB Jasper Brinkley took steps to improve his coverage skills this offseason by working on defensive back drills at IMG Academy.

"Being at middle linebacker [in the Tampa 2] you've got to be able to run down the middle of the field and be that third safety," he explained. Brinkley will remain E.J. Henderson's backup this season, but the 252-pound thumper could eventually work his way into a starting role. Henderson is in a contract year.

Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier indicated that the Vikings are proceeding as if Jasper Brinkley will start at middle linebacker in Week 1.

Despite E.J. Henderson's (broken femur) optimism, he's yet to participate in any team drills. While the Vikes are encouraged by his progress, it's still an uphill battle to return to form by opening day. Brinkley was strong against the run last year, but offenses were able to exploit him in coverage.