Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen was limited during offseason organized team activities due to a knee injury.
It’s not an ideal scenario for a Vikings squad that’s going to rely on his elite-level pass rush to reach the top of the NFL world this season.
Unfortunately, Griffen has remained sidelined since Saturday’s exhibition opener. It has nothing to do with said knee injury. Instead, the 30-year-old defensive end just recently suffered a freak injury to his leg after cutting it on the end of a table.
Really.
“Sources said Griffen hasn’t been practicing this week because he cut his leg on the end of a table and the cut got infected,” Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune reported Wednesday. “Coach Mike Zimmer wouldn’t discuss the specifics of Griffen’s injury on Tuesday, but said the defensive end was close to a return, and sources added it’s possible Griffen could play on Saturday against Jacksonville.”
That’s the good news. Said injury isn’t going to force Griffen to miss extensive action. Though, it could be a prelude to the season. Griffen sat out most of the Vikings’ organized team activities with a knee injury and has been somewhat limited during summer camp.
Having recorded 43.5 sacks over the past four seasons, Griffen has proven to be among the most consistent pass rushers in the game. Let’s just hope his injuries, freak or not, are behind the former USC standout heading into Week 1.