As the preseason went on, the Minnesota Vikings wide receiver depth chart kept taking hits. As expected, Jordan Addison received a three-game suspension attached to his DUI case from last summer. Rondale Moore suffered a season-ending knee injury during the preseason opener.
Then Jalen Nailor, the proverbial WR3 tabbed to step into a bigger role during Addison's absence, suffered a hand injury during joint practices against the New England Patriots. His status has been unclear since, but it undeniably pushed the Vikings further into the trade market for a wide receiver.
Of course, that push to the trade market has now, finally, yielded a deal to bring Adam Thielen back home to Minnesota. The 35-year-old veteran is ostensibly going to push Nailor down the wide receiver pecking order, regardless of what's going on with his injured hand.
After the preseason finale, under no obligation to say anything about injuries, head coach Kevin O'Connell avoided answering a question about whether Nailor had undergone surgery.
In some sense, the move to trade for Thielen could be considered a bad sign for Nailor's early-season injury outlook.
Jalen Nailor injury update lands as positive news for the Minnesota Vikings
During a recent edition of SKOR North's "Purple Daily" show, before the Thielen trade got done, of course, Darren Wolfson of KSTP Sports had an update on Nailor.
"Did Jalen Nailor undergo surgery on the left hand? I can tell you, there was a procedure done with the idea to be back for Week 1.
I think, when the injury report comes out two days prior to the Monday night opener, I would imagine Jalen Nailor is listed as questionable. Now, if he can ramp things up in practice a day or two prior, maybe probable.
I’m just thinking wide receiver, hand, that’s a tricky injury. The idea is, when you undergo a procedure to get back sooner, if he just lets it heal, he absolutely misses Week 1. There is this idea that Nailor is doing well, right now, with the hope to play Week 1 in Chicago.”
Nailor's status for Week 1 is still broadly uncertain, and a hand injury is a tricky injury for a wide receiver. But there's a bit of clarity now, with Wolfson reporting he had surgery on his hand in an effort to be able to play against the Chicago Bears.
Nailor might still miss the season opener, but having surgery rather than letting the hand heal seems to indicate it'll be only one missed game if he does miss any time.