MANKATO — The Minnesota Vikings need a new man in the middle of their defense.

Jasper Brinkley has inherited the job, as long as he can stay healthy. Doing his homework, though, might be the most important part.

Brinkley missed all of 2012 after surgery on the hip he injured during the preseason, but the Vikings believed enough in the ability of their fifth-round draft pick from 2009 to let free agent E.J. Henderson, their starter at middle linebacker for most of the last decade, go unsigned. Henderson is still available in case Brinkley gets hurt or stumbles badly.

The 27-year-old is learning as much as he can about playing this critical position to make sure that doesn’t happen.

“I just have to continue to be a pro, man. Go in and study. Pick up on little keys, things somebody else might not see,” Brinkley said. “Definitely got to go into the film room and devote more time to studying. I’m not married, so I have time.”

He’ll usually split his video training between the team facility and the comfort of home, or in the case of training camp, his dorm room.

“Now with the new technology, you can load it up on your iPad and take it home. But the more film you watch, the better you’re going to be,” Brinkley said, mentioning greats like Ray Lewis and Brett Favre for the time they spent studying.

The other the technology Brinkley would like to familiarize himself with is a radio transmitter inside his helmet. Just like quarterbacks wear them to communicate with coaches before the snap, one defensive player on each team is designated to have the “live” helmet for the same types of conversations with the sideline between plays. Whoever is picked to be the middle linebacker in the nickel defense, primarily used on third downs, will wear the transmitter. Head coach Leslie Frazier said the Vikings will decide between Brinkley and starting outside linebacker Erin Henderson for that role, when they bring in an extra defensive back.

Brinkley was asked if he’s a two-down or three-down player.

“Three down. Four if need be,” he said. “I’m the only person in the way of myself. Erin’s a great player also. So I just play hard, however it goes.”