Via Minnesota Vikings coaching camp, one damage has taken priority over any and all others. Broad receiver Justin Jefferson suffered what was tabbed as a minor injury to his left hamstring on the second day of camp, and he remained out for greater than three weeks earlier than returning to observe on Monday.
Throughout coaching camp and the preseason, warning is the phrase with any damage to any key participant. Most starters will play little or no (if in any respect) in preseason video games anyway, and to a sure level, camp observe will get monotonous and never useful to preparing for the season.
Groups are additionally below no obligation to reveal accidents proper now. So who isn’t dressed for observe, what they could be coping with, and so forth., is mostly left as much as reporters to note and ask about earlier than anybody will say a lot of something.
It is simple for Vikings followers to get involved about any vital participant who doesn’t observe for for much longer than a day or so, however there’s one who has most likely slipped under the radar.
Sneaky potential damage concern surrounds Minnesota Vikings edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel
The headline from Monday’s observe for the Vikings was, in fact, Jefferson’s return, however Emily Leiker of the Minnesota Star Tribune famous the continued absence of veteran security Harrison Smith and one other key defensive participant.
“The Vikings had been as soon as once more with out exterior linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel and security Harrison Smith at observe.
Smith has not practiced since August 11, and two days later, head coach Kevin O’Connell mentioned he has been coping with an sickness. Van Ginkel’s absence stays extra mysterious, as Leiker famous.
“Van Ginkel has been current at practices however in road garments since Aug. 7; his damage is unknown.”
Van Ginkel didn’t participate in practice on Tuesday both, however, once more, the Vikings don’t have any cause or obligation to reveal any damage specifics earlier than they must heading into the season opener. Van Ginkel could also be coping with a really minor difficulty, however not working towards for nearly two weeks is noticeable.
An vital caveat to Van Ginkel’s absence is the joint practices final week in opposition to the New England Patriots. Going in opposition to an opponent in a setting that wasn’t one hundred pc below the Vikings’ management was a core cause for holding Jefferson out slightly longer than could have been mandatory, and the identical concept could apply to Van Ginkel.
Van Ginkel was clearly a hand-picked free agent signing by Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores in 2024, and he was rewarded for his breakthrough final season with a one-year contract extension this offseason. He’s a critical, versatile piece of Flores’ protection.
At this level, Van Ginkel’s absence from observe is greatest tabbed as precautionary, but when he stays out as Week 1 will get nearer, the priority stage will rise.
