The Andrew Van Ginkel Injury Update Isn’t Pretty
Outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel did not partake in Sunday’s Ireland loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a neck injury, and it seems the man has already been ruled out for Week 5, a showdown with the Cleveland Browns in England.
Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel is battling an injury, and the update from the team’s head coach isn’t fun heading into Week 5.
Van Ginkel healed from a Week 1 concussion, reappeared in Week 3, played eight snaps and logged two sacks, and is back on the shelf until after the club’s Week 6 bye.
Minnesota Vikings OLB Andrew Van Ginkel Can’t Catch a Break
No Van Ginkel against the Browns for Minnesota this Sunday.
Andrew Van Ginkel Won’t Practice This Week
Head coach Kevin O’Connell effectively ruled out Van Ginkel for Week 5 after fans held tentative optimism that he would return this weekend.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert tweeted, “Kevin O’Connell had some injury updates at the team hotel near London. On LB Andrew Van Ginkel (neck), the team is ‘evaluating every avenue and all options to get him 100%.’ AVG won’t practice this week. Neither will RT Brian O’Neill (MCL sprain). No IR for O’Neill, though.”
So, yes, the injury parade continues.
An Immediate Damper on the London Game
O’Connell’s comments certainly provided clarity, but onlookers expected a little more suspense about Van Ginkel’s status before the London tryst. Van Ginkel carried a questionable status into Week 4 and wasn’t ruled out until Sunday before the contest.
So, the stakes are clear for Minnesota: looking to enter the Week 6 bye with a winning record before embarking on a murderer’s row schedule, Brian Flores won’t have one of his top playmakers and disruptors against Kevin Stefanski’s offense.
Like much of the 2025 campaign to date, Minnesota will have to win with a patchwork crew.
Van Ginkel after the Bye Week?
Hopefully, Van Ginkel can have ample time to rest, heal, and be ready for the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 7. In fact, based on the fact that he didn’t play in Ireland, the veteran defender will have 27 days to heal between the win over the Bengals and meeting with the Eagles.
It’s the perk of an early bye — that most fans usually complain about when the schedule is released in May — which allows Van Ginkel and others to enjoy nearly a month between games.
Vikings offensive guard Donovan Jackson will fall into the category as well.
More Dallas Turner Snaps
Meanwhile, the purple team does have a plan for this situation, and his name is Dallas Turner. Minnesota drafted Turner in Round 1 a year and a half ago, and while he was trapped as a rookie on a depth chart behind two Pro Bowlers, now is the time for Turner to bust off the page.
If not now, when?
So far in 2025, Turner has played 176 defensive snaps, or about 75% of the time. He’s getting the action. He has 11 pressures in four games and a 54.5 Pro Football Focus grade that leaves much to be desired. The 22-year-old is developing in real time, as the Van Ginkel injuries have cleared the path.
There’s no better time to turn heads than right now for Turner. The man needs a breakout game. Not for nothing, the Browns’ offensive line — it’s not very formidable — is the perfect criterion.
More Context on Van Ginkel
A to Z Sports‘ Tyler Forness on Van Ginkel’s injury and absences: “O’Connell’s been as honest as you can expect when it comes to injuries. He tells you everything he can, but also doesn’t mince words when it comes to his lack of a medical degree.”
“It’s especially frustrating that we don’t know more about the injury because it’s the neck. We know that neck injuries are often severe, but the type of neck injury is the most important when it comes to contextualizing when a player may or may not return. If Van Ginkel is out for some time, the Vikings do have Turner, who is playing starting-caliber football.”
Van Ginkel received a $23 million contract extension during the offseason.
Forness continued, “However, Gabe Murphy has a knee injury, which hurts the overall depth of the unit. Without Van Ginkel and likely without Murphy as well, Bo Richter and Chaz Chambliss will get more reps, along with a heavier focus on the impressive defensive line.”
“We will learn more about Van Ginkel’s injury in time, but it’s a frustrating situation nonetheless.”
Circle Van Ginkel as a bye week storyline, as that will be near the top of the list, among many.
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