The Minnesota Vikings are expecting a roster renewed after the bye week with several key contributors returning from injury.
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy, left guard Donovan Jackson, linebacker Blake Cashman and center Michael Jurgens are all expected to return to practice ahead of a Week 7 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles.
However, one notable injury timeline that remains clouded and vital to the Vikings defense is Andrew Van Ginkel‘s return.
The Pro Bowl edge rusher is dealing with a lingering neck injury that ailed him through the majority of training camp this summer.
Minnesota Star Tribune beat reporter Ben Goessling offered his read on the situation, which continues to look uncertain.
“Andrew Van Ginkel, that whole thing with the neck, I think is worth continuing to watch pretty closely because they are different with him on the field,” Goessling said on KFAN-FM 100.3 on Tuesday, October 7.
Goessling noted Van Ginkel’s instincts and football IQ being a difference-maker for the defense when he’s on the field. The veteran outside linebacker’s football sense, displayed most emphatically when sniffing out short throws and turning them into potential pick-sixes, earned Van Ginkel staying power in Minnesota.
Dallas Turner has played a larger role alongside Jonathan Greenard, while Van Ginkel has been sidelined.
Vikings’ Re-Investment in Andrew Van Ginkel Hasn’t Seen an Early Return
GettyAndrew Van Ginkel #43 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on against the Chicago Bears.
After the Miami Dolphins opted not to re-sign Van Ginkel, the Vikings signed him to a two-year deal for $20 million. They re-upped with Van Ginkel after just one season, signing him to a one-year, $23 million deal.
However, that reinvestment hasn’t panned out well so far. Van Ginkel suffered a concussion in the season opener and missed Week 2. He played just eight snaps in Week 3 and missed the two following games.
“He came out of the (Bengals) game feeling pretty good and just his head…kind of some residual issues more tied to the neck, I would say,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said last week. “He’s out of the (concussion) protocol and cleared that through the medical process last week, and now we’re just working through what his week is going to look like leading into Sunday.”
Vikings Injuries May Hamper JJ McCarthy’s Development
The Vikings have struggled to keep players healthy this season. Christian Darrisaw had to play on a pitch count in Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns, which found Minnesota without its star left tackle while needing to mount a fourth-quarter comeback.
Starting center Ryan Kelly was placed on injured reserve after suffering a second concussion in three weeks this season. He is not eligible to return until Week 10 at the earliest. Right tackle Brian O’Neill is week-to-week with an MCL injury; however, the Vikings not placing him on injured reserve assumes that this is a short-term injury that won’t see him miss much more time.
But the clock is ticking for McCarthy.
The Vikings need to gain a sense of what they have in the young quarterback this season — but trotting him out behind a patchwork offensive line is not going to offer much clarity on his potential if he doesn’t have the time to progress or is flushed from the pocket.
Kevin O’Connell adjusted his playcalling to suit Carson Wentz and an offensive line missing its top four linemen last week, adopting more quick-play throws.
That should be the prescription for McCarthy early in his return to action.
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