Greenard: Done for season

[purplefaithful]

Coach Kevin O’Connell announced Monday that the Vikings will play their final three games of the season without outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard, who will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery.

Greenard aggravated a left shoulder injury he originally suffered against Baltimore during Sunday night’s 34-26 victory over the Cowboys, exiting in the fourth quarter after the Vikings stopped Dallas on fourth down.

He appeared to wear a sling under his shirt as he exited the locker room after the game.

“I just want to say as a captain and a leader on our team, [Greenard’s] had a huge impact‚" O’Connell said during his news conference Monday. “I thought he played one of his best games yesterday before re-aggravating that shoulder. ... JG and his leadership and his commitment to being kind of a foundational player for us as a football team has been on full display.”

Greenard played 44 snaps against the Cowboys, his most since suffering his injury. He had four tackles and three quarterback hurries in the win and logged his third sack of the season.

Greenard, whom the Vikings acquired in March 2024 during free agency, has 97 tackles, 15 sacks and 34 quarterback hurries through two seasons in Minnesota.

With Greenard down, the Vikings will turn to second-year outside linebacker Dallas Turner, who has already seen a big leap in his usage because of Greenard’s injury and one to Andrew Van Ginkel earlier in the season. Turner is tied with linebacker Eric Wilson for the team lead in sacks with 5½.

O’Connell did not yet have additional updates on other injuries from Sunday night’s game but said he believes the team “avoided anything serious longer-term” with right tackle Brian O’Neill (ankle), defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (thigh) and center Ryan Kelly.

Kelly had not been among the players addressed as injured in O’Connell’s postgame news conference, though he has been working through a hip flexor issue.

Left tackle Christian Darrisaw missed his fourth full game of the season Sunday as he and the team navigate the recovery and management of his 2024 knee injury.

O’Connell said Darrisaw had swelling in his knee last week and his situation remains “week to week,” but the team hopes “to get him back in there at some point.”

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Why is Darrisaw not being shelved the rest of the season???

Its gotta be simply they want the best protection for their qb

[StickierBuns]

Time for the Dallas Turner show: this is his best position, the one Greenard plays. I'd say Turner has played better, but some fans want to crown him and he's not there yet IMO.

[Canthony]

Time for the Dallas Turner show: this is his best position, the one Greenard plays. I'd say Turner has played better, but some fans want to crown him and he's not there yet IMO.

He really has played better. Another young guy will a lot of talent. He has 3 games to continue to grow. He is not there yet, and I agree with you there. He really is good and has a chance to be special. Time to take advantage of your situation.

[badgervike]

The positive from being out of playoff contention is to give the youngsters some playing time to see what you have. Dallas has an opportunity to seize a starting gig with a good showing in these last 3 weeks.

[MaroonBells]

The next three games will have a lot to say about our 2024 draft. We've seen some good things from McCarthy, Turner, LDR and Reichard. But with the possible exception of Reichard, we're not out of the woods yet on any of them.

[purplefaithful]

The next three games will have a lot to say about our 2024 draft. We've seen some good things from McCarthy, Turner, LDR and Reichard. But with the possible exception of Reichard, we're not out of the woods yet on any of them.

Nope, we're not...I'll have to settle for "arrow up" as of mid-December. 

Turner/JJM (especially) have to become cornerstones of the franchise moving forward. That narrative hasn't changed. 

It's still cloudy on those 2 specifically.

[supafreak84]

Sucks for Greenard, but it's a blessing in disguise to be able to see Turner continue to start and get substantial playing time. I really like what I've seen from him this year

[purplefaithful]

Outside linebacker Dallas Turner will replace starter and team captain Jonathan Greenard, whose season is over because of a left shoulder injury. Turner, a 2024 first-round pick, has already started eight games this season as both Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel have dealt with injuries.

Greenard and Van Ginkel’s positions aren’t mirror images in responsibilities. Van Ginkel drops into coverage more often than Greenard. Turner will continue to work on his versatility as a rush-and-cover defender, defensive coordinator Brian Flores said.

“He’s been successful in really both spots,” Flores said.

Flores added it’s a “big loss” not having Greenard, who has been one of the NFL’s most efficient pass rushers, according to Pro Football Focus, with a team-leading 47 pressures.

But Greenard struggled to finish those plays with sacks. He had three sacks in 12 games.

“He pressured the quarterback,” Flores said. “His physicality in the run game. His leadership. I thought he did a lot of really good things. I think every player … has some plays they’d like to have back. I’m sure he does as well. We talked about some of those.”

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