BREAKING: Asante Samuel Jr. set to visit the Vikings

[JimmyinSD]

The Vikings have the worst record among all teams vying for Samuel. Hell, even the Panthers are 5-4. I think if the Vikings were 6-2, he might already be in purple. Vikings are going to have to win him over with either Flores, facilities, culture or the old standby: cold, hard cash.

my guess is... its going to be the old standby ruling the day on his decision.  a guy that is possibly looking at one last grab at the bag... thats going to rule the decision IMO.

[Kentis]

This is more of a medical check tour then a free agency visit. Major medical questions on this dude…

Vikings News: Asante Samuel Jr Visit is Not What You Think…

“Asante Samuel Jr, the reason a player like that has a five or six team tour setup is medical. He needs to go in and get physicals in different places. Without getting too deep into the weeds on the nature of the injury, it is something very serious and very scary that he is coming back from.

He had a surgery and this is not an injury that a lot of doctors thought a surgery was going to be able to fully fix. So it’s not just a matter of his doctors clearing him, it’s a team medical staff clearing him. And when you’re talking about a neck issue, a spine issue, those are really sensitive kinds of topics.”

Tom Pelissero – Power Trip Morning Show (KFAN Radio)
https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minne...explained/

[JR44]

It sounds like he should sit this year out and work on getting himself fully healthy. Seems kind of crazy to trying to come back from that at this point.

[hogjowlsjohnny]

Couldn't they just say what the injury and surgery was? I would have a much better idea of what was going on if they didn't say "it is something very serious and very scary that he is coming back from". I'm a retired physician. I think I would have a pretty good idea about what is going on if they would just tell us. I hate this kind of bullshit reporting!

[Kentis]

Couldn't they just say what the injury and surgery was? I would have a much better idea of what was going on if they didn't say "it is something very serious and very scary that he is coming back from". I'm a retired physician. I think I would have a pretty good idea about what is going on if they would just tell us. I hate this kind of bullshit reporting!

He had spinal fusion surgery.

[hogjowlsjohnny]

He had spinal fusion surgery.

Yes. Spinal fusion surgery. They didn't say why he needed the surgery, what the injury or congenital defect was. And it's easy to assume it was the cervical spine since there was mention of stingers. But what level of the cervical spine? What makes returning from the surgery so risky? Was it fusion at the cervicothoracic junction or was it at a higher level?
Was it risky because as one reporter assumed, he won't be able to do his job due to immobility of the cervical spine that is required for a CB?
Most of the time the spine is strong and stable after a fusion. I'm just attempting to ascertain why it is considered to be so risky after clearance by two surgeons!

[StickierBuns]

So I'm trying to decipher this little trip to various teams he's doing: when can he even play? He can't be ready to go anytime soon, can he? Its only the team's medical staffs that are seeing him, he's not even meeting with team coaches? I read that somewhere. Is this even for this season? lol, honestly I'm lost.

[MAD GAINZ]

So I'm trying to decipher this little trip to various teams he's doing: when can he even play? He can't be ready to go anytime soon, can he? Its only the team's medical staffs that are seeing him, he's not even meeting with team coaches? I read that somewhere. Is this even for this season? lol, honestly I'm lost.

His agent was trying to get him visits with teams in FA.  Lots of teams were worried about the surgery, recovery, and if he could even play football.  I'm assuming his recovery is over now so he's trying to get on a team.  I would think if he passes medicals, a team will sign him and start ramping him up for late November or December.

[purplefaithful]

The Vikings played host to free agent cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. on a visit to TCO Performance Center that began Thursday evening and continued Friday.

Samuel, the 2021 second-round pick by the Chargers, has reportedly been medically cleared to play again after undergoing spinal fusion surgery in April. But the many teams interested in Samuel, including the Vikings, will want their medical professionals to evaluate his recovery before signing him.

“I’ve always liked Asante and I know he’s taking a lot of visits,” coach Kevin O’Connell said Friday. “I think he wants to make sure everybody totally understands where he’s at health-wise and I know he wants to play football. ... Our personnel guys are doing the best they can to always evaluate anything that would be a good move.”

The Vikings are among six teams, including the Packers, Panthers, 49ers, Bears and Steelers, to schedule a visit with Samuel, who reportedly has meetings in San Francisco, Chicago and Pittsburgh next week.

Samuel, 26, is the son of former All-Pro cornerback Asante Samuel, who played 11 seasons for the Patriots, Eagles and Falcons.

The Vikings need cornerback help while Jeff Okudah, the No. 3 option who played 93 snaps over six games, recovers in the concussion protocol for the second time this season. Okudah was pulled from the Oct. 23 road loss to the Chargers after 11 snaps. He initially suffered a concussion in the season-opening victory in Chicago.

Okudah and tight end Josh Oliver (foot) have been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Ravens.

“We handle this with a certain level of care,” O’Connell said of Okudah. “With this one, we want to be extra cautious. He is still in a place where he is not symptom-free.”

For the second year in a row, the Vikings have turned to 31-year-old journeyman Fabian Moreau as the next cornerback up after one of the top three goes down due to injury. He had three tackles in 24 snaps against the Lions on Sunday.

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