Vikings Sign Veteran Safety Chris Crocker

MANKATO, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings have signed veteran safety Chris Crocker to give new coach Mike Zimmer some insurance on the unproven back end of his defense.

Crocker signed on Monday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the 12-year veteran played seven seasons under Zimmer when he was the defensive coordinator at Cincinnati and Atlanta.

It's the third straight summer that Zimmer has coaxed Crocker out of a planned retirement to play for him. Zimmer needs Crocker in Minnesota to try to help shore up the safety spot opposite standout Harrison Smith.

Robert Blanton appeared to have the inside track to the starting job, but he injured his hamstring and will miss several weeks. Jamarca Sanford and Mistral Raymond haven't stood out and Andrew Sendejo is just returning from injury.