What can the Vikings expect from Mike Hughes in 2019?
By Chris Schad
The Minnesota Vikings rising cornerback is coming off a torn ACL. But after the path of Dalvin Cook last season, there could be a recovery plan in place.
The Minnesota Vikings will be the first to tell you that not all ACL injuries are created equal. Throughout their history, the Vikings have had their fair share of exploding knees that have derailed careers and seasons alike.
On one hand, that’s just the nature of today’s NFL where they would rather see a destroyed knee than a concussion. On the other, it means that teams have plenty of experience in dealing with different types of knee injuries.
For the current Minnesota training staff, led by head trainer Eric Sugarman, that has meant seeing the quick rebound of Adrian Peterson in 2012 and the devastating injury of Teddy Bridgewater in 2016. More recently, the Vikings saw Dalvin Cook initially struggle after his 2017 ACL tear before rounding into shape in the final weeks of the 2018 season.
The latest challenge for Minnesota revolves around 2018 first-round draft pick Mike Hughes. Hughes was off to an encouraging start to his career last season before tearing his ACL in Week 6 against the Arizona Cardinals.
Currently, the rookie appears to be ahead of schedule. But that might not mean he’s at full strength when the Vikings host the Atlanta Falcons on September 8 for their first regular season matchup of 2019.
Handling Hughes will be key to Minnesota’s short and long-term success and knowing what to expect could help the rising cornerback get back to form sooner rather than later.
So as the 2019 season continues to get closer, what can the Vikings expect from their talented, young corner in his second year with the team?