7 reasons why the Vikings shouldn’t panic about Danielle Hunter’s injury
By Dustin Baker
Zimmer’s Vikings don’t roll over and die when injuries happen
Recent history shows us that when influential Vikings players have been beset by serious injury, it’s not all doom-and-gloom.
Minnesota wideout Adam Thielen injured his hamstring on a touchdown reception during Week 7 last season. Did Minnesota shrivel and struggle? No, they didn’t. In fact, the Vikings won five of its next seven games.
Former Minnesota offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski turned to rookie pass-catchers Bisi Johnson and Irv Smith Jr. as well as tailback Dalvin Cook to compensate for Thielen’s lost production.
And, ex-Viking Stefon Diggs hosted an alpha-male party where he was the guest of honor. Diggs emerged as a deep threat for Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins and proved he could shoulder the weight of Thielen’s absence.
Also, the Vikings lost two marquee players in Sam Bradford and Dalvin Cook in 2017. The Vikings could have packed it in with a pity party. Instead, they forged a path to that season’s NFC Championship.