The Minnesota Vikings closed out the final stretch of organized team activities last week with confidence and some concerns.
On one hand, the team is excited about the potential they have to turn things around immediately.
They have responded well to Kevin O’Connell as the head coach, and overall, there seems to be a much more loose and exciting vibe from the team, as opposed to how they looked towards the end of the Mike Zimmer era.
However, on the other hand, they’re being reminded of how quickly things can change on the football field. It takes more than talent to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Injuries have put countless championship teams in the grave before they even started.
Here are some observations as the Vikings wrapped up OTAs.
Injury bug starting to bite
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The Vikings know a thing or two about the injury bug after losing Danielle Hunter in back-to-back seasons. It can take a serious toll on a team and ruin a potential run when key players go down.
Granted, it’s a juggling act every team in the league has to deal with to at least some degree. In boxing terminology, they refer to it as “rolling with the punches.”
Well, there were plenty of punches thrown Minnesota’s way in their third week of OTAs. Za’Darius Smith, the big pass-rushing acquisition in the offseason from the Green Bay Packers, missed a practice with an injury. Wideout K.J. Osborn also sat out of practice as well.
Both situations are considered minor, but the same couldn’t be said for second-year receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette, who has been ruled out for the rest of the spring practices with a “lower leg” injury.
The team isn’t expecting Smith-Marsette’s injury to linger into training camp, but it is something to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.
Adam Thielen picking right back up where he left off
Good luck if you’re someone trying to write Adam Thielen off…
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