Zimmer provides update on Dantzler
Joe Johnson
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The Minnesota Vikings’ defense had every excuse not to perform Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. Addition to the lack of experience they have in seemingly more positions than not, the already injury plagued unit was hit with more injuries in Green Bay. These weren’t minor injuries, either, as it’s been reported that fill-in cornerback Mark Fields II suffered a punctured lung when his cheat was spiked by a Packers’ cleat.
Ouch.
Fields should be out two to three weeks, according to his father, and couldn’t fly home with the team.
Another scary injury came when rookie, also, corner Cameron “The Needle” Dantzler… I’ll let Courtney Cronin of ESPN explain:
“[Dantzler was injured] while attempting to tackle Packers running back A.J. Dillon on the final play of the first quarter. Dillon took a handoff up the left side of the field before Dantzler, linebacker Troy Dye and safety Anthony Harris collectively brought him down, with Harris’ right hip/upper thigh appearing to collide with Dantzler’s head and neck area.
Dantzler lay motionless for several minutes as athletic trainers helped strap his body to a backboard before taking him off the field. The cornerback was moving his fingers, according to the Fox broadcast, but did not show many signs of movement upon being carted off the field.”
It sounds like Dantzler is doing well now though, as Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer provider an update today on the rookies status.
“He’s doing well. He’s got a chance to play this week”
While that’s encouraging, and most likely Zimmer answering an inevitable follow up question, it is injuries like these that put things in perspective.
“Cam’s a great kid. He’s had a bunch of things happen this year. But he’s a great kid, He’s very humble, very respectful, tries real hard and is a smart guy. We all were concerned. It looks like he’s going to be just fine.”
That’s good news. As, again, while football isn’t the priority in matters of life or death, the Vikings defense could build on their performance Sunday and… Dare I say it… Make a run for the playoffs after all?
We’ll see Sunday against the Detroit Lions, where it sounds like the Vikings should have Dantzler at their disposal.