Injury-Plagued Vikings Pro Bowler Is Injured Again
Injury luck has not been on the Vikings’ side this season, with various starters and key players missing time through the first three games of the season. Linebacker Blake Cashman is on IR and is set to miss two more games. Aaron Jones will be sidelined for at least three contests.
Injury-Plagued Vikings Pro Bowler Is Injured Again
Of course, J.J. McCarthy is working through his ankle injury, and rookie Donovan Jackson underwent wrist surgery on Monday. And then, there was the time of waiting for Christian Darrisaw’s and Harrison Smith’s returns. They did, indeed, return last week.
The Vikings have also had multiple concussion cases this year. In Week 1, Andrew Van Ginkel and Jeff Okudah suffered one, while Justin Skule and Ryan Kelly landed in concussion protocol a week later. It seems as if all of them had to sit out exactly one game before suiting up again.
However, Van Ginkel is listed on the injury report once again with a neck injury.
Star Tribune‘s Emily Leiker reported, “Of note from today’s Vikings practice, the last in Eagan before team departs for Dublin: C.J. Ham (knee) was on the rehab field working out with a trainer. He’ll be eligible for return from IR after Sunday. No Andrew Van Ginkel (neck), but Javon Hargrave (ribs) was out there.”
Van Ginkel was listed on the injury report as a non-participant both Wednesday and Thursday, and that suggests that another absence is likely. Every case is different, but it’s fair to assume that he would have to return at least in a limited capacity on Friday. The Vikings always take the safe approach with their star players, and Van Ginkel is undoubtedly one of those.
Signed in the 2024 offseason to form the new edge-rushing duo with Jonathan Greenard, Van Ginkel flew under the radar leading up to the season, but quickly announced his arrival by snatching a pick-six against Daniel Jones in the season opener.
Ultimately, he even logged his first Pro Bowl appearance after a strong first campaign in purple. In 17 games, Van Ginkel collected 11.5 sacks, 79 tackles (18 tackles for loss), and two interception return touchdowns. That earned him second-team All-Pro honors.
After playing the Week 1 game against the Bears, Van Ginkel was surprisingly diagnosed with a concussion and had to sit out Week 2. He returned against the Bengals, but only played eight snaps, in which he had two sacks.
If he’s out again, it would be another start for sophomore Dallas Turner, a defender who has clearly taken a step in his second year in the league. Turner can imitate some of Van Ginkel’s versatile roles under Brian Flores’ watch.
Vikings Territory’s Dustin Baker wrote, “Thankfully, Minnesota has a contingency plan for this scenario, and his name is Dallas Turner. The second-year EDGE has taken major strides so far this season, aided by Van Ginkel’s non-involvement in Week 2 and a miniature glimpse in Week 3. The Vikings drafted Turner in Round 1 about a year and a half ago, and because Van Ginkel played at a Pro Bowl level in 2024, Turner only saw defensive action on 28% of snaps as a rookie.”
Van Ginkel intercepted Aaron Rodgers in last year’s overseas matchup, but he might not get a chance to repeat that effort.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.