Injured Viking Posts Update
The Minnesota Vikings top four defensive players through 10 games, per Pro Football Focus, are Camryn Bynum (85.3), Jordan Hicks (76.7), Danielle Hunter (74.6), and Mekhi Blackmon (74.6).
The defense has fundamentally turned around following a shoddy start and hit its groove after losing to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3.
Injured Viking Posts Update
Correspondingly, Minnesota has won five consecutive games, a direct testament to the newfound defense, reduced turnovers, and fantastic quarterback play from Kirk Cousins and Josh Dobbs.
But the assignment gets trickier this week, as the aforementioned Hicks, or the team’s second-best defensive player, will miss a game or two with compartment syndrome. The veteran defender was injured in a win over the New Orleans Saints, and fans hope for a speedy recovery.
And Hicks is optimistic about his comeback. He posted on the X app Tuesday morning, “Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me the past few days and for all of your continued prayers. The surgery was a huge success and I’m grateful for all of the doctors, nurses and medical staff who treated me.
Here’s the full tweet:
On Monday morning, reservist linebacker Brian Asamoah, a 3rd-Round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, was on deck as Hicks’ immediate replacement, but Asamoah has — you guessed it — battled an injury, as well, an ankle ailment that has limited his possible playing time in recent weeks. Asamoah was not active in Week 10.
But on Monday afternoon, the Vikings signed Anthony Barr, a free agent, and he’s presumably on deck to fill some of Hicks’ responsibility, especially if Asamoah is not 100% healthy. Barr played for the Vikings for eight seasons, so on top of a season already becoming more fun by the moment, Minnesota’s front office hit fans with a reunion angle.
Hicks isn’t expected to miss too much time, probably why his tweet was so upbeat. The Cleveland Clinic describes compartment syndrome like this: “Compartment syndrome is a painful condition, with muscle pressure reaching dangerous levels. Acute compartment syndrome is a medical emergency, usually caused by trauma, like a car accident or broken bone. Chronic (or exertional) compartment syndrome is caused by intense, repetitive exercise and usually stops with rest or changes in routine.”
PFF classifies Hicks as the NFL’s 19th-best linebacker through 10 weeks, not bad for a 31-year-old veteran. He’s tallied 87 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 4 passes defended, a sack, a touchdown, and a forced fumble in 2023.
Minnesota is a 2.5-point underdog heading into Denver for a Sunday Night Football showdown this weekend.
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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