Vikings Place Danielle Hunter on Injured Reserve

Mike Zimmer was right. We now see that Danielle Hunter will not be starting this weekend, when the Minnesota Vikings open their season at home, vs the Green Bay Packers. Hunter was just placed on Injured Reserve minutes ago.

#Vikings DE Danielle Hunter has been placed on IR and practice squad K Chase McLaughlin has been protected. pic.twitter.com/eNmJUAT2PP

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 9, 2020

Shocker.

While disappointing, this can’t be surprising. As much as we all wanted to believe Zimmer and the rest of the team’s spin doctors, Danielle Hunter hasn’t stepped foot on the practice field yet during camp (beyond a few stretching drills). The Vikings will need Yannick Ngakoue to step up and make an immediate impact.

According to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press, Hunter is eligible to return on October 4, meaning he will miss at least three games. Ifeadi Odenigbo will get his chance to start in week one, after all.

Courtney Cronin also tells us that Danielle Hunter won’t be on the injury report for this week, because he is going to the IR instead. She does reveal where Hunter’s mystery injury supposedly is… his neck.

The Vikings do not have to list Hunter on the injury report because he was moved to injured reserve today, but I am told the “tweak” is related to a neck injury he sustained, per source.

— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) September 9, 2020

The first game that Danielle Hunter is eligible to return for the #Vikings would be Oct. 4 in his hometown of Houston against the Texans.

— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) September 9, 2020

#Vikings DE Danielle Hunter will miss at least games against the Packers on Sunday, Sept. 20 at Indianapolis and Sept. 27 against Tennessee due to being placed on injured reserve.

— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) September 9, 2020

Ifeadi Odenigbo will replace Danielle Hunter as a starting DE on Sunday. Earlier today, #Vikings LB Eric Kendricks said this: “It’s going to be hard to replace a guy like (Hunter) but we have guys that also are hungry and want to step up too.”

— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) September 9, 2020

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan