Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson remains in Phoenix Monday after undergoing surgery for a fractured femur suffered in Sunday night’s loss to the Cardinals.
The team’s defensive captain spent the night in an intensive care unit.
“He’s a spartan so wish him the best in his rehab and his care,” Vikings coach Brad Childress said.
Childress confirmed that Jasper Brinkley will replace Henderson at middle linebacker, but Ben Leber will take over the position in the team’s nickel packages. The Vikings coach talked about the team needing to move forward.
"[Henderson] is a great rallying force,” Childress said. “He’s a good football player, he’s a good leader, a quiet leader. But you get past that. You may not replace him physically. But you get past that. You have to get past it because we have a quarter of the regular season left.”
Henderson’s future prognosis is unclear at this time. Nothing about the recovery is likely to be easy for him or the Vikings.
Henderson is expected to return to the Minneapolis area later in the week.