Why has Danielle Hunter missed four practices for the Vikings?

The Minnesota Vikings defensive end is dealing with an injury.

With the amount of new starters the Minnesota Vikings are expected to have on the defensive side of the ball this season, they will need even more help from their returning starters to make sure the unit is still a force in the NFL.

One of these returning starters for the Vikings is defensive end Danielle Hunter. During the last few years, Hunter has developed into one of the top pass rushers in the league.

During Minnesota’s last few training camp practices, however, the talented defensive end has been a non-participant due to an injury.

Minnesota Vikings not sharing much about Danielle Hunter’s current injury

During each of Minnesota’s last four practices, Hunter hasn’t taken part in any individual or team drills. When asked about the defensive end’s absence from the field, Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said on Wednesday that Hunter is currently dealing with a, “little tweak.”

Zimmer didn’t provide any additional details on the location of the defensive end’s current injury, but it doesn’t sound like Minnesota’s head coach is too worried about it.

If Hunter continues to miss more practices, however, things are going to start to get a bit stressful. The Vikings are already lacking in defensive end depth and losing a player with the abilities of Hunter would be a tremendous blow to their pass rush.

The other defensive ends on Minnesota’s current roster include Ifeadi Odenigbo, Jalyn Holmes, Stacy Keely, Kenny Willekes, D.J. Wonnum, Eddie Yarbrough, and Anthony Zettel. It’s not exactly a group that would strike fear in most opposing offensive lines.

So let’s just hope that the Vikings are keeping Hunter off the practice field for precautionary reasons and his injury doesn’t turn into something more serious.