Last season, the only two losses the Minnesota Vikings suffered before Week 18 were on a Sunday-Thursday night turnaround. That short week turnaround is always challenging, and an extra layer is added if there are numerous injury concerns in play.
The Vikings' defense had it worst showing of the season against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night, surrendering 37 points and 419 yards of offense that was split almost equally between run and pass. The silver lining is they now have a "mini bye" before taking on the Detroit Lions in Week 9, and some of those injured players can get healthy during that extra time between games. To say nothing of strategic adjustments that need to be made.
A hand-picked free agent signing of defensive coordinator Brian Flores, based on their history with the Miami Dolphins, edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel was a revelation for the Vikings' defense last season on his way to earning the first Pro Bowl nod of his career.
Van Ginkel suffered a concussion in Week 1 this season, and he missed Week 2. He played just eight snaps in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals before suffering a neck injury, but his impact was felt (two sacks).
The Chargers' game was Van Ginkel's fourth straight missed game due to a neck injury. He has been a limited participant when the Vikings have had a normal practice week, but other injury headlines have regularly pushed any wondering about his return timeline to the background.
Kevin O'Connell doesn't sound overly optimistic about Minnesota Vikings edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel playing in Week 9
The day after the rough loss to the Chargers, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell was asked how close he feels Van Ginkel is to returning.
"I think he's a guy that's been able kinda continuously, get the limited work on the practice field, to try to continue to stay sharp, as he tries to get back to a place to be available to us", O'Connell said. "I'm encouraged by the fact that we've got a little a more time this week, and how 'Gink' can possibly turn over. When he's available, and we can get him back out there, he's one of those guys that is a critical part of how we wanna play defense."
"When we can make that happen, and when that happens, will be a huge boost for us."
Then O'Connell got to a more direct answer to the question.
"(I) don't really have an update right now, on that, for next week, in any kind of concrete way. But my hope is we get to see 'Gink" sooner rather than later, for sure."
Neck injuries are nothing to take lightly, since on the severe end, they have ended careers. Fans have easily questioned why Van Ginkel was not (or has not been) placed on IR, but there's an easy answer for that.
League rules limit each team to eight players who can be placed on IR with a designation to return during the regular season. As noted by Will Ragatz of SI.com, which isn't overly surprising considering the number of injuries they've had, the Vikings have already used that option six times this season.
Even as O'Connell gets generally criticized for his word salad responses to questions, he's not going to declare anything one way or another regarding any nuanced injury situation. But he also didn't sound very optimistic that Van Ginkel will be on the field in Week 9, or anytime in the near future.