The Vikings placed linebacker Audie Cole, who fractured his right ankle in Sunday's victory over St. Louis, on injured reserve and used the open roster spot to sign linebacker Jason Trusnik.
Trusnik, who entered the league in 2007 as an undrafted free agent from Division III Ohio Northern, has been with four NFL teams. Cut by the Panthers after the preseason, the 31-year-old has not played a regular-season game in 2015.
He played all 64 games from 2011 to 2014 with the Miami Dolphins, including 10 starts.
Trusnik, 6-4 and 250 pounds, started 27 career games in nine NFL seasons with 22 career tackles, 3.5 sacks and one interception. Known as a standout special teams player (76 career special teams tackles), he has also been with the New York Jets and Cleveland.
During the 2012 and 2013 seasons, Miami's linebackers coach was George Edwards, who is now the Vikings defensive coordinator.
Cole, who was the team's top backup at linebacker, started Sunday in place of injured Eric Kendricks. Cole fractured his ankle on a fourth quarter play. Kendricks (ribs) could return this week.
In other news, the Vikings must activate cornerback Josh Robinson from the physically-unable-to-perform list this week or place him on injured reserve. Once a player comes off the PUP list, a team has three weeks to activate him, per NFL rules. Robinson returned to practice on Oct. 21.
