James' Injury Creates Problems at DE

The Vikings depth at defensive end is quickly disappearing. First it was Ray Edwards being hit with a four-game steroid suspension for what his agent said was a tainted supplement (has anyone in the NFL actually taken steroids? If you listen to agents they're all tainted supplements). Now Erasmus James is likely to miss the 49ers game with knee injury.

James' surgically repaired left knee has been giving him problems recently to the point where the Star-Tribune is reporting he might not play again this season.

If that's the case the team all of a sudden has one solid DE in Kenechi Udeze, one promising rookie in Brian Robison and an inexperienced second-year fill-in in Jayme Mitchell. The team signed Panthers practice squadder Otis Grigsby to a contract. Grigsby has been bouncing around training camps since 2003 looking for a job, so it's a safe bet he won't be fighting for a starting role.

With the defensive ends banged up, the Vikings may have to rely on even more blitzing. The good news is that the 49ers passing offense has been bad enough that this week's game might not be the perfect time to get youngsters a chance to get comfortable in playing extended numbers of snaps.