Video: Danielle Hunter looks ready to terrorize QBs for the Vikings again

After missing the entire 2020 season, Danielle Hunter will return to the field for the Minnesota Vikings in 2021.

In 2020, the Minnesota Vikings were without several of their top players from the defensive side of the ball. However, no one might have been missed more by the Vikings last season than defensive end Danielle Hunter.

In 2018 and 2019, Hunter had developed into one of the most dominant pass rushers in the entire NFL. But an injury to his neck last summer prevented the 26-year-old pass rusher from appearing in any games for Minnesota last season.

Now, Hunter has recovered from his injury, and he is expected to return to the field for the Vikings during the upcoming 2021 campaign. How will the Minnesota defensive end perform after having a year off?

Minnesota Vikings pass rusher Danielle Hunter showcases athleticism in recent video clip

It’s been a while since Vikings fans have seen Hunter out on the field, so it’s not surprising that some still have concerns about how he might play in 2021. Based on a recent video clip posted to Twitter, however, the Minnesota defensive end looks ready to pick up where he left off in 2019.

Obviously, this isn’t being done with Hunter in full pads or in an actual game. But the quickness and explosiveness he is able to display in this clip is very encouraging for his chances to get back on track this year.

Without Hunter on the field last season, Minnesota struggled mightily to generate any sort of pass rush. The Vikings’ final sack and pressure numbers in 2020 were some of the lowest in team history.

But with Hunter and defensive tackle Michael Pierce returning, combined with the additions of Dalvin Tomlinson and Sheldon Richardson, Minnesota’s defensive line should be much improved during the upcoming season.

The Vikings’ defense depends so much on the performance of their defensive line, which made life for the unit extremely hard in 2020 when the four guys up front had a difficult time against opposing offensive lines each week.

Things should be very different for Minnesota’s pass rushers this year, however, and they’ll likely have Hunter to thank for a big part of their anticipated turnaround.