Vikings Face Major Setback with Greenard and Metellus Out for Season
The Minnesota Vikings are reeling from a significant blow to their defense as head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed on Monday that outside linebacker and leading pass rusher Jonathan Greenard will undergo shoulder surgery, effectively ending his season. This news was compounded on Wednesday when O’Connell announced that safety Josh Metellus will also require shoulder surgery, sidelining him for the remaining three games. Both players will be placed on injured reserve.
Injury Updates and Medical Decisions
O’Connell elaborated on the situation regarding Metellus, stating, “We’ve just been evaluating that shoulder, kind of on a week-in and week-out basis.” The evaluation process intensified after returning home late Sunday, leading to medical assessments that determined a surgical intervention was necessary. “It’s just not stable enough,” he explained, emphasizing the importance of addressing the injury before it worsens. “From a medical perspective, Tyler (Williams) and his group and our doctors feel like this is the right time to not risk possibly injuring it any more.”
Despite battling through injury, Metellus has been a stalwart for the Vikings this season, starting all 14 games and rarely leaving the field. He currently ranks third on the team with 86 tackles, leads with two interceptions, and has defended six passes. As one of the team’s three defensive captains, alongside Greenard and veteran Harrison Smith, Metellus has also been pivotal in motivating his teammates, often seen delivering impassioned speeches before games.
Leadership and Resilience
“Kind of along the same lines as JG, (Josh is) one of our captains and a guy I could not respect more for the toughness he’s shown playing with that injury and just pushed through a lot this season, continuing to lead at such a high standard,” O’Connell remarked. His respect for Metellus’s resilience is evident, underscoring the leadership both players have brought to the team.
Metellus, a sixth-round pick from Michigan in 2020, has ascended from a special teams role to a full-time starter following the arrival of defensive coordinator Brian Flores in 2023. This past summer, he secured a three-year, $36 million contract extension, a testament to the team’s faith in his abilities.
Looking Ahead
With both Greenard and Metellus out, the Vikings will need to navigate the final stretch of their season without two key defensive players. The injuries not only impact the on-field performance but also leave a void in leadership within the locker room. O’Connell expressed confidence that both players will remain integral to the team’s spirit and morale, stating, “Both those guys are going to be heavily involved, still, around our team in the locker room and continuing to push this team to try to finish the way we want to here.”
As the Vikings look to close out the season on a strong note, the focus now shifts to their remaining roster and the next steps in addressing these critical injuries.
