The Vikings placed center John Sullivan on injured reserve with the designation to return in early September after he had back surgery, which means we’re closing in on the date he’d be eligible to return to the lineup.
It doesn’t look like that’s going to happen, however. During his Monday press conference, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said that Sullivan needed to have a second operation on his back after suffering a setback in his rehab. As a result, Zimmer says the chances that he’ll play again this season are “minimal.”
Joe Berger stepped into the starting lineup when Sullivan was first injured and has played every offensive snap for the team so far this season. He’s turned in solid work despite some struggles for the guards on either side of him and may have moved over to one of those spots when Sullivan was healthy.
That would appear to be off the table now, but could be in the cards for next offseason when Sullivan, who has two years left on his deal, is healthy enough to return.