A lot of people were picking the Minnesota Vikings as favorites to win the NFC North this year. They’d gone 10-6 last season and reached the divisional playoff round. They seemed like a sleeper pick to make a run. Nobody could’ve expected the hits their roster would take in the offseason to come. Not even division rivals like the Chicago Bears.
Over the past few months, they’ve lost several key contributors including wide receiver Stefon Diggs, defensive tackle Linval Joseph, defensive end Everson Griffen, and cornerback Xavier Rhodes. It was hoped they’d be able to survive these losses with a strong enough draft and some key moves in free agency.
Time has shown they may have been too optimistic. Minnesota has stumbled to an 0-3 record and their problems only continue to get worse each week. Things may have just hit DefCon 1 now. Their superstar pass rusher Danielle Hunter has already missed three weeks with a neck issue. Expectations were he might return by now.
Those hopes have turned to outright panic at the latest news. Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press revealed the injury is worse than anticipated.
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Ex-NFL team doctor speculates #Vikings star Danielle Hunter could need season-ending surgery on his neck. NFL Media reported last weekend that Hunter has a herniated disc in his neck. Mike Zimmer said Hunter was in New York this week for a "second option."https://t.co/uSq18wBCFE
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) October 2, 2020
Source said #Vikings DE Danielle Hunter went this week to Hospital for Special Surgery in New York (it's run by Giants team Dr Scott Rodeo) & there was a recommendation he not play again this year. We'll see if that ends up being the case. Mike Zimmer said he got "second opinion"
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) October 2, 2020
Chicago Bears would catch a huge break if Hunter is done
There is no question the Vikings are feeling the absence of Hunter in a huge way. Their pass rush has managed just four sacks in the first three games and the pass defense ranks a dismal 30th in the NFL. They haven’t been able to stop anybody. This despite making a bold trade for ex-Jaguars pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue. They badly miss their star defensive end who posted back-to-back seasons of 14.5 sacks.
If Hunter is out, it would be a major stroke of good fortune for the Bears. They play the Vikings twice in the span of just over a month. First at home on November 16th then the rematch in Minnesota on December 20th. Having a veteran like Nick Foles under center now, that could end up being a bigger loss than normal for that defense.
