Anthony Barr Will Have Knee Surgery, Miss Rest Of Season
By Dan Zinski
Anthony Barr’s very strong rookie season will come to a disappointingly premature end, coach Mike Zimmer revealed on Friday.
More from Minnesota Vikings News
- Former Vikings first-round pick could reportedly return to NFC North
- Bears analyst has extremely embarrassing Kirk Cousins take
- 6 Vikings who (maybe) won’t make the 53-man roster in 2023
- Predicting what the Vikings will do in the 2023 NFL Draft based on 2022
- Vikings have reportedly begun extension talks with T.J. Hockenson
The linebacker, who has missed the last several games due to injury, will undergo a minor procedure on his knee according to Zimmer. Barr will miss the final two games of the regular season.
The #9 overall pick in this year’s draft, Barr entered the season being perceived as a high-upside young player who would need to work on his game before making a major impact.
But Barr surprised many personnel experts by stepping in right away and making a major contribution to the Vikings’ defense at strong-side linebacker.
Though Barr did show his rough edges at times, he also flashed outstanding athleticism and great instincts. His dynamic playmaking helped the Vikings’ D establish its identity as one of the most improved units in the league.
The high point of Barr’s season came against Tampa Bay when he scored the game winning TD in overtime after stripping the ball from TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins and scooping up the fumble.
Barr’s play seemed to tail off after that heroic moment, partly due to his knee problems. The decision to shut Barr down is clearly the prudent choice with the Vikings out of playoff contention.
Barr can now concentrate on getting healthy and the Vikings can focus on getting him ready for the 2015 season. The rookie has only scratched the surface of his great potential and could easily develop into an All-Pro player in the coming years.