While the Minnesota Vikings had a solid offseason the team has been hit by some bad news during the first few weeks of camp.

First, starting defensive end Ray Edwards missed several practices with back issues. Then in the first preseason game, special teams guru/backup linebacker Heath Farwell and backup defensive end Jayme Mitchell suffered season-ending injuries.

Starting safety Madieu Williams was next as it was reported earlier this week that the free agent signee would miss up to six weeks with a neck injury.

Now Sirius NFL Radio is reporting that starting left tackle Bryant McKinnie is likely to get a four-game suspension for his role in a brawl outside a Miami nightclub in February. McKinnie has pleaded not guilty to the offense but the commish isn’t bound by legal decisions in deciding how players will be disciplined according to the league’s personal conduct policy.

The Vikings have been a trendy pick to improve this season – even picked as a Super Bowl participant by some “experts”. Zoneblitz hasn’t jumped on that bandwagon – in fact it hasn’t jumped on any bandwagon just yet, partially for the reasons above.

Injuries and suspensions play such a huge role in who advances and who stinks during the NFL season that it’s just too early to make any picks like that. If the Vikings keep losing guys like they are they’re unlikely to even make the playoffs, much less go to the Super Bowl.

It’s important to note that it sounds like Sirius is couching its announcement (I don’t have Sirius and have not heard the report) to some extent, reporting that he is “likely” to get four games. And a suspension would surprise few at this point, as reports have indicated that it would be more a surprise if he got off without some punishment.

And again – it’s a report, it’s not yet fact. The Minneapolis Star Tribune attempted to track down the veracity of the report and, according to the Access Vikings blog, got this: McKinnie said he isn’t aware of a suspension, Sirius Radio confirms they are running the report and the league says it hasn’t yet made an announcement.

But regardless, a potential McKinnie suspension would be the biggest loss to befall the team yet. Farwell is a great special teams player and Mitchell provides solid depth but neither is a starter and their spots can be filled even if they cannot fully be replaced. Williams is a solid safety but there is some depth at that position with Michael Boulware and rookie Tyrell Johnson.

The team’s backups to McKinnie are journeyman Artis Hicks, injured rookie free agent tackle Drew Radovich, practice squadder Chase Johnson, possibly former right tackle Marcus Johnson and potentially rookie free agent center Tim Mattran. Though there is some potential there – and despite McKinnie’s frequent underachieving – it can’t be good going into the season protecting your hoping-to-improve-but-so-far-less-than-stellar quarterback Tarvaris Jackson with one of that five-some.

Especially considering the Vikings’ early schedule. Their first four games are against teams with either elite pass rushers or guys who used to be elite but are coming off tough seasons. They start with Green Bay (Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and Aaron Kampman), Indianapolis (Dwight Freeney), Carolina (Julius Peppers) and Tennessee (Jevon Kearse) – all teams where it is extremely beneficial to have a good, solid left tackle.

Again this may be premature. But if this isn’t a good reason for the Vikings to find a way to convince McKinnie to keep his head on straight there probably isn’t going to be a good enough reason out there.