The Minnesota Vikings have released sixth-year safety Jamarca Sanford.

Sanford was placed on injured reserve before the regular season. Nagging injuries, lastly a strained quadriceps, limited him during training camp. The two sides reached an injury settlement, and his contract was terminated Monday.

Sanford was a seventh-round draft pick from Mississippi in 2009, a key contributor on special teams who worked his way into the starting lineup in 2011. He started 44 of the 70 games he played for the Vikings, including 13 or more each of the last three seasons.

The Vikings took the opposite approach with Sanford from fellow safety Mistral Raymond, who was in the first wave of cuts in August, but was brought back on injured reserve after clearing waivers.