Vikings Injury Update Is Mostly Positive with 1 Caveat
Ahead of Monday’s practice session, head coach Kevin O’Connell answered some media questions, and he was quickly asked about the injuries that had seemingly piled up in recent days, with various players sitting out practice.
Vikings Injury Update Is Mostly Positive with 1 Caveat
His response was primarily positive, as there’s no reason for concern in most areas.
Three big-name starters that had been missing some practice time are tight end T.J. Hockenson, center Ryan Kelly, and safety Joshua Metellus. They are “dealing with some day-to-day, normal training camp bumps and bruises,” O’Connell said Monday. “No issues whatsoever there, but you’re not going to see any of those three guys tonight.”
Indeed, none of these guys practiced. Hockenson left practice last week with what looked like a groin injury. O’Connell didn’t particularly narrow it down when he called it “a hip, leg, back, whatever you want to classify it as.” A strange, but apparently not severe, injury.
“Once again, I’m not a doctor, I wouldn’t even be able to pronounce whatever (VP of Player Health and Performance) Tyler (Williams) told me,” the young coach added.
When the club added Nick Vennett on Monday, it was an alarm signal, but the goal wasn’t to replace Hockenson, but to deal with Gavin Bartholomew’s continued absence, O’Connell revealed. Rookie sixth-rounder Bartholomew has missed all of camp and doesn’t seem to be coming back anytime soon. Back injuries can linger, and that’s precisely what is going on here.
He is losing ground in the TE3 competition, as fellow rookie Ben Yurosek, who went undrafted, is getting mostly good reviews. Of course, veteran Vennett is another candidate for a 53-man roster spot. Josh Oliver, the TE2, could get some more run, too, while Hockenson is out. Those health issues have certainly given the depth players a chance to make some noise.
About Metellus’ “ankle, foot” injury, O’Connell said: “It’s just a little soreness there. He’s been able to practice with almost no limitations, he’s just had a little soreness (after) the work and is able to work through it, but this time of the year, with the type of workload he’s already been able to put in early on here, we feel good about getting him a couple days to let it settle down and then hopefully we can put it behind us.”
Metellus was a potential holdout candidate early in camp, as he was entering the final season of his contract. Indeed, he didn’t practice at that time, but once he received his new deal, he didn’t immediately return. Soreness is normal at this time of the year, and franchises will undoubtedly take a careful approach with their established players, such as Metellus.
And finally, we have Ryan Kelly’s absence. He has an “elbow thing, got a little stretched out the wrong way,” O’Connell declared. “He’ll be fine.”
Kelly’s presence would be important for quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who needs to build a connection with the ball snapper, who is also responsible for setting the protections. Furthermore, the young passer has been under fire all camp, battling a ferocious Brian Flores defense that is apparently one of the league’s top units.
He’s doing that without left tackle Christian Darrisaw, who is still working back from his torn ACL, without Kelly, and without Justin Jefferson, who is expected to slowly start participating after his hamstring injury either this or next week. Again, the team will not take any risks.
Injuries are piling up, but there has not been any devastating news so far (knock on wood).
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.