Minnesota Vikings safety Josh Metellus and outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard were placed on injured reserve Wednesday due to their respective shoulder injuries.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said both players would begin their rehabilitation immediately and would be “heavily involved” in pushing their teammates over the final three games of the season.
“We just evaluated that shoulder, week after week, and we got home late Sunday, we went through some medical evaluations Monday and Tuesday and it was determined he was going to have the shoulder repaired,” O’Connell said of Metellus. “(Vice President of Player Health and Performance Tyler Williams) and his group, our doctors and Josh think this is the right time to not risk further injury.
“In line with JG (Greenard), one of our captains and a guy I couldn’t respect more for the tenacity he’s shown playing through this injury as we approach the end of the season. And he’s done a lot of that this year, continuing to lead at such a high level.”
Signed to a three-year contract extension worth $36 million before the season, Metellus, 27, recorded 86 tackles and two interceptions in 14 games (all starts).
Jay Ward and Theo Jackson will likely play larger roles alongside Harrison Smith over the final three games for the Vikings (6-8), who visit the New York Giants (2-12) on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
“I think you’ll see Jay Ward in a little bit more of some of these packages,” O’Connell said. “Obviously we’ve tried to get Jay Ward on the field a little bit more in different circumstances, at the corner position, at the safety position here and there, just by the type of season he’s had and the growth he’s had. So I think it’ll be a great opportunity for him to continue to build on the positive things he’s done.”
Greenard, 28, has recorded 38 tackles and three sacks in 12 games (10 starts) this season. He reached the Pro Bowl last season with 12 sacks.
–Field level media
