Vikings WR Blames Sam Darnold for Rib Injury… and He Agrees

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Brandon Powell
Credit: William Glasheen/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings came away victorious against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday at Lambeau Field. It should have been a blowout, after the Vikings raced out to an early first half lead. But they nearly coughed it up, thanks to a second half collapse of near-epic proportions.

It was actually a 1st half muffed punt that got the Packers failed comeback started. A muffed punt that only happened because the Vikings starting punt returner, Brandon Powell, wasn’t available to do his job.

Sam Darnold got Minnesota Vikings teammate Brandon Powell hurt

Why wasn’t Brandon Powell back taking that punt return? Because his quarterback, Sam Darnold — who’s been playing at an MVP level to start the season — got him hurt. Just ask the veteran wide receiver, who spoke to reporters after the game and had zero hesitations throwing Darnold under the bus.

According to Andrew Krammer (Star Tribune), Darnold knew what he had done and could be seen afterward apologizing on the sideline, to Brandon Powell, for putting him in harm’s way. Video of the sequence is right below.

Powell said quarterback Sam Darnold came up to him on the sideline to apologize after a late third-down pass over the middle that got Powell drilled by a couple of Packers defenders. Powell missed the end of the first half with a rib injury.

“It’s a timing play,” Powell said. “That’s his fault I got hurt, but it’s football.”

Star Tribune

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Powell also said that Darnold’s ability to bounce back, after a bad play, is exactly why the Vikings love him. There was no hard feelings between the two. Powell was just stating facts.

Brandon Powell shows importance for the Vikings

Not long after Powell exited the game, Green Bay was forced into a punt situation. With the traditional punt returner out of the game, Jalen Nailor was tasked with fielding the football. Nailor hasn’t returned a punt as a professional, and facing the sun, muffed the ball to set up the Packers.

Due to the miscue, Minnesota immediately had their backs against the wall. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty backed Green Bay up, but they found the end zone for the first time just before the half expired. Powell not being available on special teams play was huge.

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He knows how important he is to the Vikings, but it’s the receiving corps as a whole that continues to get the job done. This is very clearly a team that believes in and supports on another. It takes a certain level of honesty and cohesion have high level success in the NFL, and the Minnesota Vikings are set up to keep things rolling.

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