Vikings Midweek Injury Update

Vikings Midweek Injury Update
Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.

A Minnesota Vikings midweek injury update wasn’t all too necessary one week ago. But with players’ pads on and training camp in full swing, a few minor injuries have beset the organization.

Thankfully, Minnesota hasn’t suffered major setbacks like the Denver Broncos, a team that lost Tim Patrick (WR) and Damarea Crockett (RB) for the season on Wednesday. Cross your fingers.

These are the Vikings current injuries. Jesse Davis, who is vying for the starting RG job, is healthy, too.

Ryan Connelly (LB)

Ryan Connelly
NFL photos via USA TODAY Sports.

Injury: Knee
Status: PUP List

Connelly injured his knee against the Pittsburgh Steelers last season and is evidently still recovering. There is no timetable for his return, although he should be ready within the next couple of months.

The Vikings use Connelly frequently on special teams. He’s played one career snap on defense in Minnesota after departing the New York Giants in 2020.

Dalvin Cook (RB)

3rd Injury in 2 Days Ripples through Vikings Training Camp
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.

Injury: Minor Hand Injury
Status: Back at Practice Wednesday

Cook was back at practice on Wednesday after briefly departing on Tuesday. Because he’s missed a lot of time in his career to injury — he’s been absent one-third of all career games — Vikings fans fear the worst when hearing Dalvin Cook is injured.

He’s fine. The show rolls on.

Alexander Mattison (RB)

Vikings Will Either Keep 5 RBs or Someone Surprising Will Be Cut
Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports.

Injury: Minor Hand Injury
Status: Back at Practice Wednesday

Edit-copy-paste from Cook’s diagnosis. Mattison, too, was temporarily sidelined with a hand injury earlier this week. Like Cook, Mattison returned to practice on Wednesday.

Mattison does not have a Cook-like injury history, so anxiety over his status is minimal. The Vikings are on tap to showcase Mattison as the RB2 for a fourth straight season unless the franchise does something funky like promote Kene Nwangwu or rookie Ty Chandler.

Kene Nwangwu (RB)

Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Injury: Soft Tissue Leg Injury
Status: Day-to-Day; Hasn’t Returned as of August 3rd

Nwangwu was injured on Monday and hasn’t returned in the subsequent two days. He’s the team’s kick returner, fastest player, and theorized breakout candidate on offense.

Why the breakout forecast? Well, he has gazelle-ish speed. And for a new coaching regime stuffed with offense-first thinkers, Nwangwu’s speed could be utilized by Kevin O’Connell.

His injury isn’t major, and he should return to camp soon.

Blake Proehl (WR)

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Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.

Injury: Torn ACL from 2021
Status: PUP List

Proehl, a second-year WR, is more like Connelly with an indefinite timetable to return. He suffered a torn ACL at training camp in 2021, and it’s apparently taking a long time to heal.

When he returns, he’ll fight to make the roster, as the Vikings already have 5-7 wide receivers realistically clamoring for a 53-man roster spot.

Irv Smith (TE)

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports.

Injury: Thumb
Status: Had Surgery Earlier This Week; Expected Ready for Week 1

Smith tossed on pads Monday for the first time since the 2021 preseason — and was promptly injured 45 minutes later. This injury should be considered the Vikings most significant because the organization is banking on hope that he’ll be ready for Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers.

If Smith is not ready, Minnesota would turn to Johnny Mundt or Zach Davidson for TE1 duties. Some fans are keen on that idea; others panic.


Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).

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