The Plot Thickens on Marcus Davenport’s Injury
No matter what, Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Marcus Davenport will miss at least the next four games due to a high ankle sprain.
He cannot return sooner, and in fact, the absence may be longer.
The Plot Thickens on Marcus Davenport’s Injury
Davenport injured his ankle last Sunday at Soldier Field — not the ankle that hampered him to start the season; that was the other ankle — in the Vikings 19-13 dogfight win over the Chicago Bears.
Three days later, Minnesota placed Davenport on IR, and that was that — until Thursday. Speaking to media members, head coach Kevin O’Connell hinted at a longer absence if Davenport requires surgery on the ankle.
“I think he’s still getting some opinions. High ankle sprain, kind of the severity of it sometimes can require a procedure, but I don’t have that information right now,” O’Connell said Thursday.
The Vikings host the best-in-the-business San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football in four days, and Davenport will be sorely missed. Almost like clockwork, when he returned to Minnesota’s starting lineup against the Carolina Panthers in Week 4, the Vikings defense began vivid improvement.
Without Davenport, defensive coordinator Brian Flores will lean on D.J. Wonnum, Patrick Jones, and perhaps rookie Andre Carter.
“We’ll get that timeline when we figure out what’s best for him,” O’Connell added about Davenport’s injury status.
High-ankle sprains typically take 4-6 weeks to heal in sports, so fans should expect a Davenport determination to occur closer to Thanksgiving. Surgery for Davenport’s injury is somewhat rare but is evidently on the table, according to the Vikings skipper.
O’Connell concluded about his team’s depth at the position, “Our depth’s going to be tested now, and Pat Jones and D.J. need to continue doing the really good things that they’ve both done. Pat Jones makes a lot, a lot of plays. Plays physical. And D.J.’s really been a do-it-all guy for us.”
Two and a half weeks ago, Davenport tallied 4 tackles, 2 pressures, a sack, a QB hit, and a tackle for loss in Charlotte, aiding the Vikings toward their first victory of 2023 over the Panthers, which was desperately needed if the club wanted to contend for the postseason. It was a welcome-to-Minnesota moment for Davenport. The vision to pair him with Danielle Hunter was in full effect and even emulated last year’s early-season success involving Hunter and Za’Darius Smith.
To date, Davenport has logged 6 QB pressures, 2 sacks, and 2 tackles for loss in 3 starts.
EDGE rushers like Robert Quinn and Melvin Ingram are available on the free-agent market if Minnesota is interested in extraneous options to fill Davenport’s role.
Vikings WR Wasn’t Gone Long
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 Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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