The Minnesota Vikings have signed wide receiver Jarius Wright to a four-year contract extension and have temporarily lost center John Sullivan to injury.
The deal was done Thursday, four days before Minnesota’s season opener. Wright has begun the final year of his rookie deal, after being drafted in the fourth round out of Arkansas in 2012. He’s coming off career bests in 2014, with 42 catches and 588 yards.
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Wright has worked his way into a role as a reliable slot receiver, the team’s third option this season behind Mike Wallace and Charles Johnson. Wright has four receptions of 50-plus yards in the NFL, including an 87-yard game-winner in overtime last year against the New York Jets.
The Vikings have placed center John Sullivan on injured reserve with a designation to return, because of a bad back.
The move was made Thursday, four days before the season opener at San Francisco.
The Vikings announced that Sullivan had surgery Wednesday. He underwent a lumbar microdisectomy, a procedure typically done to address a herniated disc. Sullivan hadn’t practiced since Aug. 18. Joe Berger has replaced him in the starting lineup.
Teams can place one player per season on short-term injured reserve with the designation to return. Sullivan will be eligible to return to practice after six weeks and to games after eight weeks. Factoring in Minnesota’s bye, Sullivan must miss the first seven games.
