Getty ImagesVikings coach Mike Zimmer will not be handling Thursday night’s game against the Cowboys, a day after undergoing emergency surgery to repair a detached retina.
According to G.M. Rick Spielman, special-teams coordinator Mike Priefer will serve as the interim coach.
“We have the utmost confidence that Mike Priefer will be able to handle the interim head-coaching duties for tonight,” Spielman said on a media conference call.
Spielman said the Zimmer’s health is being assessed one day at a time, and that no decisions have been made regarding his availability for the next game, Week 14 at Jacksonville.
The decision to go with Priefer arose from a desire not to disrupt the offense or the defense. Spielman said that, because the situation arose after the week of preparation had been completed, the players are ready.
“As much as he wants to be out there coaching tonight, it’s in his best interests to get this taken care of,” Spielman said. “I can’t express how hard it is on Coach to not be able to coach tonight.”
Spielman added that Zimmer will not attend the game, and Spielman emphasized that Zimmer ran every practice and meeting in advance of the game, underscoring that the players are prepared to play.
“We’re as prepared as we’ve ever been,” Spielman said.
The surgery originally had been planned for Friday, but his vision significantly deteriorated after practice on Wednesday, setting the stage for the surgery.
“In the land of the blind…the one-eyed man is king!”
Dallas 38, Minnesota 6
A super slick weasel like Spielman really ought to be in politics.
Treat Williams can play the older version of him in the movie……
My God! This is gotten ridiculous for the Vikings. I don’t wish this on any team as I always want to see the beat talent available! Just plain Brutal 2016 for my team?
Pruefer will do great. He has ha sensitivity training.
Of course, people see a guy losing his vision as a time to make jokes.
Hie eyes got sick from watching his team…even with that, I wish him a speedy and full recovery!
i was expecting a pic of David Patterson to be used….
Wait until Chris Kluwe hears about this! LOL!
I’m afraid when I enter the stadium tonight that I will observe a combination of locusts and the plague invade the Vikings’ sideline right before kickoff. Even our damn head coach is on IR.
Oh, and I bet Chris Kluwe is having a cow right now.
As a Packers fan, I wish Mike Zimmer nothing but the best in his recovery from this surgery.
Serious stuff…I hope that run defense holds Zeke under 200 yards tonight!
Well Zimmer should be happy he won’t have to see his team fall to .500 or Bradford get sacked 7 times tonight enroute to his predictable season ending injury we all know will happen eventually.
Other teams have more injuries and more significant injuries than the Vikings, quit crying about it. Just be thankful that your hopes were dashed a little later than usual this year.
Good luck to Mike Zimmer.
If they don’t throw it past the first down marker on third and six, I’m going to need emergency eye surgery from gouging them out.
djvh2 says:
Dec 1, 2016 11:48 AM
Other teams have more injuries and more significant injuries than the Vikings, quit crying about it. Just be thankful that your hopes were dashed a little later than usual this year.
Good luck to Mike Zimmer
******
You’re right, a team plays with what they have. Whining is for losers, or the packers. That said, could you name the team that has lost their starting QB, RB, most of their O-line and coach this season. Thanks.
You’d think Sam Bradford was the one needing eye surgery with as terrible as he’s been
djvh2 says:
Dec 1, 2016 11:48 AM
Other teams have more injuries and more significant injuries than the Vikings, quit crying about it. Just be thankful that your hopes were dashed a little later than usual this year.
YEP EVERY TEAM LOST THEIR STARTING QB AND ACE RB ALL WITHIN 2 WEEKS, AND 80% OF THEIR OFFENSIVE LINE
Wait… they have HOW many former head coaches on the staff? And they’re going to have the ST coordinator run the show tonight? Brilliant!
For all of you questioning my statement that there are other teams with more injuries, look it up (hint: mangameslost site). Why should I do your work while you wallow in self pity?
Bradford at QB is an obvious upgrade, sad as that is.
The Almighty Cabbage says:
Dec 1, 2016 12:05 PM
Wait… they have HOW many former head coaches on the staff? And they’re going to have the ST coordinator run the show tonight? Brilliant!
***************************************************
Considering Priefer has been there longer than any other coach, yes this does make sense. Also it does not effect the other coaches from having to give up their duties while they coach the team.
djvh2 says:
Dec 1, 2016 11:48 AM
Other teams have more injuries and more significant injuries than the Vikings, quit crying about it.
—————————————–
First off, name me a team that has had more injuries than the Vikings this year?
Second, the packer fans, coach and diva QB have all blamed their bad season on injuries at some point.
djvh2 says:
Dec 1, 2016 11:48 AM
Other teams have more injuries and more significant injuries than the Vikings, quit crying about it. Just be thankful that your hopes were dashed a little later than usual this year.
—————————————————————-
Show me just ONE team that has lost more players to season ending injuries! The Vikings have lost to IR
Starting Quarterback
Starting Running back
Four offensive linemen
One defensive lineman was lost in week 1 and hasn’t played since…..
And now the coach.
This doesn’t include the weekly list of injuries. You might want to check things out before you print such a statement…..
I feel for coach Zimmer. He is having a hard year to say the least. From losing his QB, to starting the year on fire and then plunging, losing Norv Turner, losing AP, then his health… Would not wish that to anyone. Hope he has a full and fast recovery.
At least Ragnar is not on IR! Oh…wait
I hope that a$$ clown Kluwe doesn’t catch wind of this, no one wants to hear from him again.
Get well coach Zimmer!
The Almighty Cabbage says:
Dec 1, 2016 12:05 PM
Wait… they have HOW many former head coaches on the staff? And they’re going to have the ST coordinator run the show tonight? Brilliant!
*****
It actually is brilliant. One former head coach still needs to concentrate on the offense and call those plays. The other is trying to cut and paste the O-Line. Why not use the most useless coordinator to manage the clock and throw red flags?
Does not matter who is on the sidelines for the Vikings because losers find a way to lose and the Vikings will always find a way to lose.
The Vikings just may pull the upset tonight. They’ll have a coach leading them without having to contend with a screaming hothead.
Nobody likes to work for a hernia-inducing red-faced know-it-all screamer that has smoke coming out of his radar-dish ears.
Why do you think Norv walked?
>> First off, name me a team that has had more injuries than the Vikings this year?
See my post at 12:11.
Mike looks like the packers head coach minus the 300 pounds!
Win one for Zim.
It may seem crazy, but these are the types of games that the Vikings seem to win.
Wishing coach Zimmer a speedy recovery.
So many trolls on this site. Get well soon Zim. And other teams have had more significant injuries? Maybe San Diego but at least they have Rivers..Name one other team that lost its starting QB, best offensive player/RB, starting LT and starting RT? If it’s happened to some other defense so be it but then name a team lost both DEs, and all pro MLB, and your best safety.
The Almighty Cabbage says:
Dec 1, 2016 12:05 PM
Wait… they have HOW many former head coaches on the staff? And they’re going to have the ST coordinator run the show tonight? Brilliant!
———————
Maybe there’s enough ego tension in the room that Zimmer doesn’t want to have to tip his hand on who’s the “favorite child”. Once one of those former head coaches gets the nod as first-choice backup, it could plant seeds of trouble.
djvh2 says:
Dec 1, 2016 12:36 PM
>> First off, name me a team that has had more injuries than the Vikings this year?
See my post at 12:11.
———————————–
Just name the team or teams that have had more starters injured than the Vikings.
It’s not hard.
I’m not wasting my time reading your link if can’t even name which team has had more injuries.
14 teams with more players on IR than the Vikings.
#quitcherbitchin
Research “man-games-lost.” San Diego and New Orleans are Nos 1 and 2. Vikings aren’t in the top five.
He would be my Priefer’d choice anyways
you’d think packer fans would be a little more appreciative for the Vikings rash of injuries, it’s the only reason green bay still has a chance to get back in the division race.
not saying they would be greatest show on turf, but if the offense were healthy I’m sure they could manage 20-24 points. which would put us right around 8-3 maybe 9-2.
Kluwe’s head is going to explode.
“Just name the team or teams that have had more starters injured than the Vikings.
It’s not hard.
I’m not wasting my time reading your link if can’t even name which team has had more injuries.”
Wow, how lazy can you be? I even gave you the site.
Some people just don’t want to know the truth. (Chargers and Saints among others)
Carry on with your self pity.
For the Packers:
Starting RB out for the year after 5 games. Backup RB out for weeks 6-9, 3rd string RB out for year before it began, 4th string RB on IR after 3 games. Starting TE out 6 weeks. Starting WR Cobb missed time. Key WR Montgomery missed first 5 games. Starting RG Lang out for past 2 games and counting, and his backup Barclay out. Starting LT has missed time. On defense, all-pro CB Shields injured week 1 and out for year, other starting CB Randall out 6 games, nickel back Rollins out 3 games, DB Goodson on IR, starting ILBs Ryan and Martinez both out multiple games and still out.
See, we can cry too.
So here it is fellas – to the clown who said other teams have suffered the same fate as the Vikings this year when it comes to injuries.
The most injured teams in the league this year have been the Chargers and the Saints – However both those teams have had their starting QB all year.
The Minnesota Vikings have been the most impacted by their injuries.
Injuries to J.J. Watt, Teddy Bridgewater, and Adrian Peterson are among the top injuries
Adrian Peterson is also the 2nd highest injury impact behind Tony Romo (1st) of the Dallas Cowboys.
Hope he’ll be ok — get well soon, coach!
I hope he recovers quickly. Zimmer used to be our D-Coordinator, got nothing but love for him. I figure the Cowboys might lose one of their next three games, Vikings have their back against the wall tonight, should be a great test. That said, nothing about their offense has been impressive of late.
Quit complaining about injuries. If my mom was your starting tackle and got replaced by your mom, you can’t bitch about losing your starter, who sucked in the first place.
When you lose Griffin, Joseph, Barr, then you can complain.
For you whinny trolls who are claiming the loss of a QB and RB. Bradford was an upgrade and AP is washed up as shown in his first two games, especially as you all like to say “against that horrible packer defense “.
You are also the fools that we’re claiming a super bowl and a historical defense after 5 games.
Quit you’re whining
Not even a Vikings fan, but to the fans of other teams:
You do realize losing 2nd – 3rd string-players is a little different than a Pro-Bowl QB, All-Pro RB, and 4 offensive starters on the O-line, right? How do you expect any rhythm/consistency?
I’m just happy my team has been able to stay healthy.
viking fans continue to be so predictably funny. About 4 or 5 losses ago, all we heard was that injuries didn’t matter, because Zim was a genius and Spielman was a magician and the defense is so awesome that they’ll win games all by themselves. Now, that your team is finally sucking up to it’s potential, now you cry about all of your injuries?
If the team plays bad, he can put them on an island and nuke it.
In terms of salary cap dollars, the Vikings are the highest on IR, which means that more starters are out than other teams.
I have made a post that does state that other teams have more players injured, but PFT censored it.
Note, I’m not complaining about injuries. The Vikings are not good enough to make the playoffs.
It’s packer fans, and whiny Aaron who make excuses.
The packers are the Super Bowl favorites.
If they don’t win the Super Bowl, it’s an EPIC failure.
I don’t recall any Viking fans feeling sorry for the Packers when they led the league in man-games-lost in 2010…their most recent SuperBowl winning season.
Just another wake-up call to Viking fans, quick to ridicule the Packers for only winning two SuperBowls with two HOF QB’s.
It’s harder than it looks. Write it down.
I have an idea, Packer people, go watch your thread, or read this one and don’t make a fool of yourself with acid posts. Vikings fans who are doing this on the Packer threads, same advice. There are some smart insightful posts from real football fans, but it is so hard to sift through the hate to find them. What if we all grow up together on three,
one, two, …….
PS good luck coach, this sounds serious and I wouldn’t want to see it happen to anyone
People will be surprised to see Dallas lose at MN tonight.
A regression to the mean is in order, which still puts Dallas at 12-4 to end the season.
Credit that O-Line for making the rookies introduction to the NFL an easy one. Big boy defenses will limit the ‘high powered’ offense.
I love toast, but not when my Vikings are TOAST! And they most certainly are, yet again…*sigh*
What’s going on with them coaches in the NFC? guys quit in the middle of the season on an undefeated team, guys going to the hospital via ambulance….who is next?
djvh2 says:
Dec 1, 2016 11:48 AM
Other teams have more injuries and more significant injuries than the Vikings, quit crying about it. Just be thankful that your hopes were dashed a little later than usual this year.
Good luck to Mike Zimmer
******
You’re right, a team plays with what they have. Whining is for losers, or the packers. That said, could you name the team that has lost their starting QB, RB, most of their O-line and coach this season. Thanks.
______________________________________
Losing your QB was an upgrade for you. Bradford is better than Bridgewater at this stage of Bridgewater’s career.
Your RB is getting old and there’s no guarantee he’ll ever be able to play a full season again.
I give you a nod on your “O” line. Your backups have played reasonably well.
As for calling the Packers losers, I find it hard to understand how the team with the most championships in NFL history can be called losers. Especially when you factor in they’ve owned the division for many years.
Real men go to school on the banks of the Severn River. Go Navy, make us proud.
All-pro CB Sam Shields is harder to replace than all-pro RB Adrian Peterson
Packer fools talk pretty BIG about a team that got smoked by the mighty TITANS. Too funny.
“Packer fools talk pretty BIG about a team that got smoked by the mighty TITANS. Too funny.”
Just checked the vegasinsider web site. Packers currently have much better odds than the Vikings to win the NFC and to win the Super Bowl. So there is that.
No excuses. If the Vikings don’t win, they’re not good, right?