Everson Griffen returning to the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday

The Minnesota Vikings defensive end has been absent from the team’s facilities for the past few weeks to work on improving his mental health.

As they prepare for their big showdown on Sunday Night Football against the New Orleans Saints this weekend, it looks like the Minnesota Vikings are going to get a little extra help on the defensive line.

Veteran defensive end Everson Griffen, who has been absent from the team’s facilities since September, will return to the Vikings on Wednesday according to an announcement from the team on Tuesday.

While Minnesota has announced that Griffen will resume team activities this week, his status for Sunday’s matchup with the Saints is still uncertain. If he is able to play against New Orleans though, his mere presence on the defensive line would give the Vikings’ defense a tremendous boost.

Griffen has not played in a game for Minnesota since the team tied the Green Bay Packers in Week 2. Shortly after, the Vikings defensive end was admitted to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation.

His status for the remainder of the 2018 season was up the air until Tuesday’s announcement from the team. However, Minnesota had continuously made sure to state that Griffen was going to be given as much time as he needed in order to improve his mental health.

Even if he doesn’t end up playing on Sunday against the Saints, Griffen getting back onto the practice field and in the locker room with his Vikings teammates is a sign that his health is headed in the right direction.

This week’s matchup with New Orleans is an important one for Minnesota and they might have just picked up the necessary help needed to come out with a victory.