Vikings Pro Bowler Done for the Year
On Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings showed the nation the version of the team they were supposed to be in 2025. That, of course, was too little too late, but it was still nice to see that the good was hidden somewhere rather than having never existed. For Jonathan Greenard, it was the last game of the season. He’ll undergo season-ending shoulder surgery, head coach Kevin O’Connell announced Monday.
The Jonathan Greenard Injury Is a Season-Ender
Initially, Greenard’s shoulder injury popped up in another game on national television, when the Vikings faced the Baltimore Ravens in Week 10. Chasing Lamar Jackson, Greenard tried to stop the speedy QB by making a diving tackle, but he missed and landed awkwardly on his shoulder.
The watchers saw the defender in great pain, and he didn’t return that day. Furthermore, he missed the following two contests, allowing Dallas Turner to sneak into the starting lineup. Greenard then returned in a limited role, but didn’t get his full snap count until Sunday’s game in Dallas.
Once again trying to bring down a quarterback, he grabbed Dak Prescott and reaggravated the shoulder issue. That play is the last time we’ll see Greenard in action this season.
On his way out, Greenard earned praise from his head coach a day after his last outing in 2025: “He was not going to be denied when he got his strength and got what he needed to be cleared to play. He knew he would not be able to put this behind him until probably he could get it fixed, whenever that was going to be.”
The team captain played despite his shoulder not being at 100% and he was still quite effective. He made four tackles and one sack. Prescott might have encountered the Pro Bowlers in his nightmares, given his seven QB pressures and four QB hurries in only 24 pass-rush snaps.
O’Connell added, “I’m just so proud of him. I know he’ll get it fixed and be ready to rock and roll.”
Greenard’s second season in purple wasn’t quite as dominant as the first one, though he is still leading the team in QB pressures by a wide margin. The major problem is that he struggled to finish plays. Greenard was constantly in the backfield, but too often, quarterbacks just managed to get out of his grasp or made him miss entirely. It was the story of the season for him.
The defender will finish the season with only three sacks, a major downgrade from the 12 in his first Pro Bowl campaign a year ago. Be assured, though, that Greenard was a force in most games and ruined plays without securing sacks. One of the sweet aspects about him is his talent in the passing and running game. Unlike some other edge defenders, he doesn’t take downs off when the opponent is handing the ball off.
Greenard signed a four-year deal worth $76 million as a part of the legendary 2024 free agency haul, and he is worth every penny. The 28-year-old will headline Minnesota’s defense in 2026.
Dallas Turner’s Chance
With Greenard ending up on the sidelines, get ready for a major dose of sophomore Dallas Turner.
Turner struggled to get consistent playing time in his debut season, but he has gotten more run this year with Andrew Van Ginkel and Greenard both suffering injuries. With the added opportunities, we’ve seen Turner grow into a disruptive player in his own right.
Since the first Greenard injury, Turner has been excellent, racking up sacks and tackles for loss. He can play as a versatile edge defender like Van Ginkel (though not quite at that level), but he has looked better in Greenard’s role. That is built more around getting after the passer, while Van Ginkel has more coverage responsibilities.
Turner will get three more games to audition for an even bigger role next year. He is still only 22 years old.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.