Starting safeties Andrew Sendejo and Harrison Smith both had recent offseason surgeries, but are expected to return to full strength before training camp, an NFL source said today.
Smith's ankle surgery was first reported by ESPN. The Pro Bowl free safety was hampered by a severe ankle injury that forced him to miss two games late in the season. Smith, who initially thought he didn't need surgery, returned and played the final two games of the regular season. He put off surgery until after the Pro Bowl.
Sendejo, who underwent knee surgery, had his second season as starter end due to the knee injury suffered in practice. He was placed on injured reserve and missed the regular season finale vs. Chicago.
Both safeties were key parts of the Vikings' third-ranked pass defense from last season.
