Sam Darnold injury update: Will Vikings QB be able to play against Packers this week after 3-0 start?
Sam Darnold is most likely to participate next week against the Packers, as his injury is reported to be a bone bruise, not structural damage.
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Sam Darnold (Image via IMAGO)
Looks like Kevin O’Connell was indeed right starting the season with Sam Darnold instead of rookie JJ McCarthy as he outperformed last season’s AFC South champion Houston Texans in an astounding victory at 34-7. Scoring four touchdowns, the quarterback dominated the game while outperforming the star CJ Stroud.
However, the game ended on a concerning note as Darnold ended up under MRI over a knee injury, resulting in a bone bruise. Fortunately, there was no structural damage jeopardizing his presence in the upcoming games as NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported on Monday.
This raises the question of whether or not the Minnesota Vikings quarterback will appear in the next week’s game against the Green Bay Packers.
Really good news. Positive news. Extensive evaluations this morning, really just revealing a knee bruise in there. A little sore. But hoping Sam can have a normal week of preparation as we go through it.Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell revealed
Until the disappointing injury, Darnold has been excelling with 53-out-of-78 passes for 657 yards, eight touchdowns, and two interceptions. Leading the team to three consecutive victories, the quarterback has been on the path to establish his prominence in the league among the elite quarterbacks of this era.
As for next week’s game against the Packers, Darnold is most likely to participate since he has enough time to recover from the bone bruise. However, his presence hasn’t been confirmed yet as the team is prioritizing his health.
How did Sam Darnold injure his knee on Sunday?
The Vikings star quarterback sustained the knee injury in the final 3 minutes and 50 seconds remaining in the third quarter. He was targeted by Houston defensive end Danielle Hunter for a low hit and fell on the ground, following a drop back for a second-down pass.
At first, Darnold didn’t feel much pain as he stood up, however, he couldn’t balance himself and had to sit down on the stadium turf. He managed to walk to the Vikings’ medical tent. Since rookie McCarthy is also out due to an injury, backup Nick Mullens stepped up but after making just one play, Darnold returned to the field.
While jogging back to the field, the stadium gave a loud cheer for the quarterback, which he was immensely grateful for. After the game, he was sent for an MRI whose result brought everyone a sign of relief, ensuring the injury wasn’t serious.
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Pratyusha Srivastava
(2132 Articles Published)