The most frustrating injury is quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s high ankle sprain. Thanks to the jackass tackling of Kaden Ellis, the Vikings quarterback could be out anywhere from 2-4 weeks. Ellis pulled out the hip-drop tackle to bring down McCarthy. It’s a tackle that’s designed to injure. For that reason, the league has made a pathetic attempt to legislate it out of the game. For some reason, they are supposedly penalizing players through fines rather than in-game penalties. Last season, the Vikings lost Jordan Addison for two games thanks to the jackass tackling technique. In the preseason, Rondale Moore was lost for the season thanks to the jackass tackling technique. On Sunday, McCarthy was lost for perhaps a handful of games thanks to Ellis’s jackass tackling technique. Again, the hip-drop is designed to injure. It’s designed to rip up ankles and knees. Something has to be done about it. The league has to be better. Will it take an injury to Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen before the league actually does something real to get this shit out of the game?
J.J. McCarthy needs game snaps. Hopefully, the games missed will be more of the 1-3 range.
The Vikings lost outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel and corner Jeff Okudah to concussions in Week 1. A shortened week may have helped keep them out of the Week 2 game. In Week 2, center Ryan Kelly and backup left tackle Justin Skule exited with concussions. All concussions are concerning. Kelly’s might be the most concerning as he’s missed several games in his career to the injury. Hopefully, all four will clear the protocols in time for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
In addition to the injuries to J.J. McCarthy, Ryan Kelly, and Justin Skule, running back Aaron Jones left the Falcons game with a hamstring injury. It isn’t considered to be serious but it’s serious enough to already be ruled out for Sunday’s Bengals game.
Vikings Injuries:
Week 1:
Blake Cashman - hamstring
Ty Chandler - knee
Andrew Van Ginkel - concussion
Jeff Okudah - concussion
Week 2:
J.J. McCarthy - ankle
Aaron Jones - hamstring
Ryan Kelly - concussion
Justin Skule - concussion
Yea, these injuries can stop. They can stop immediately.
Four concussions in two weeks! That can definitely stop!
In terms of severity and longevity, Blake Cashman’s and Ty Chandler’s injuries are the most concerning as they are the only players that were placed on injured reserve. So, they are the only players that are expected to miss as many as four weeks. Hopefully, that holds true.
Moving forward, I’m hoping/expecting Christian Darrisaw and Harrison Smith to be on the field for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. If Ryan Kelly clears concussion protocols, the Vikings should finally have their five starting offensive linemen available. That will be a huge boost for backup quarterback Carson Wentz. J.J. McCartthy didn’t have that in the first two games and he was often running for his life. Justin Skule is a serviceable tackle but too often he allowed free runners at his quarterback.
The hope is that all four concussed players return for Week 3. That would be great. Christian Darrisaw and Harrison Smith make their season debuts. That would be outstanding. The hope also is that J.J. McCarthy and Aaron Jones have short stays on the sideline. That would be amazing.
Blake Cashman and Ty Chandler should return after the Week 6 bye.
And finally, it would be awesome if this run of injuries comes to an abrupt end.
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