Vikings’ coronavirus troubles include 1 player hospitalized
The Minnesota Vikings have been operating this week under the NFL’s intensive virus protocols, as five players remained on the COVID-19 reserve list Wednesday and one had to be hospitalized with a breathing trouble.
Coach Mike Zimmer declined to identify the player, whom he said was admitted to the emergency room Tuesday with pneumonia-like symptoms before his condition improved.
“He’s stable now,” Zimmer said Wednesday, “but it was scary.”
According to a person with knowledge of the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the person was not authorized to speak publicly about it, backup guard Dakota Dozier was the player who had to be hospitalized.
Dozier is vaccinated for COVID-19.
“It’s serious stuff,” Zimmer said. “Like 29 guys are getting tested because of close contact, including myself. Just do what we do.”
Safety Harrison Smith, center Garrett Bradbury, backup linebacker Ryan Connelly and practice squad offensive tackle Timon Parris also remained on the COVID-19 reserve list.
Smith, Bradbury and Dozier had to sit out the game at Baltimore, which the Vikings lost 34-31 in overtime. Smith, who said this summer he had not been vaccinated, has also been ruled out of the game Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. NFL protocols for unvaccinated players who test positive require a minimum 10-day isolation.
■ PANTHERS: Sam Darnold will miss at least four weeks with a right shoulder injury, meaning P.J. Walker will take over at quarterback for the Carolina Panthers.
Darnold, who is 4-5 as Carolina’s starter, suffered an incomplete fracture of the shoulder blade and will go on injured reserve, coach Matt Rhule announced Wednesday. Walker will start for the Panthers on Sunday against the NFC-leading Arizona Cardinals. The former XFL quarterback is 1-0 as an NFL starter but has completed just 49.3 percent of his passes with one touchdown and five interceptions during his two seasons in the league. Matt Barkley, who was signed off the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad on Tuesday, will serve as Walker’s backup.
Walker said his job will be to “bring some juice” to a Carolina offense that has struggled in recent weeks.
Darnold originally injured his throwing shoulder in a Week 8 win over the Atlanta Falcons. He had an MRI on the shoulder the following day, but the injury wasn’t considered serious enough to keep him out of Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots.
Darnold wound up injuring the shoulder in a “different spot” against the Patriots after taking an elbow to the back, per Rhule.
A second MRI on Monday revealed the fracture in an area that was not previously deemed to be an issue.
“This was not something he was complaining of last week,” Rhule said.
■ JETS: The New York Jets will keep rolling with Mike White at quarterback for now. And maybe a while longer.
Coach Robert Saleh announced Wednesday the decision to start White against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, with rookie Zach Wilson still recovering from a sprained knee ligament. Wilson, cleared to return to practice this week, was limited Wednesday while running the scout team. “We had a feeling on Monday with Zach’s knee that he’s not fully ready to go,” Saleh said. Saleh added the long-term decision at quarterback will be made “day to day,” raising the possibility White could continue to start even when Wilson has healed. That’s a departure from Monday, when Saleh said Wilson would start again when he is healthy rather than sit. “There’s value in both, but you also don’t want to force one over the other,” Saleh said. “Mike has done a phenomenal job in presenting the ability where you’re getting good football out of the quarterback.” It will be the third straight start for White, who left last Thursday’s 45-30 loss at Indianapolis with a bruised nerve in his right hand but is fully healthy now. White threw for 405 yards and three touchdowns in New York’s 34-31 victory against Cincinnati in his first NFL start on Oct. 31. He was selected the AFC offensive player of the week, and his jersey and game ball were sent for display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, after he set the NFL record for completions in a first start with 37.