Shoulder surgery ended Jabari Price's season before the Vikings cornerback could get into a game.
Coach Mike Zimmer revealed the procedure Wednesday when asked why had been placed on season-ending injured reserve this week. The Vikings promoted linebacker Brandon Watts from the practice squad to replace him on the roster.
"We just felt like we needed help at linebacker, and he's done a good job on the show teams and special teams stuff," Zimmer said of Watts. "We have a lot of hope for him."
Watts, a seventh-round draft pick in 2014, was on Minnesota's active roster all last season and appeared in two games.