The NFL is an ever-unpredictable thing, and on the eve of the most anticipated Thursday Night Football game of the season – a matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys – we’ve been thrown for a loop. Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer is having emergency eye surgery and it is uncertain whether or not he’ll coach in the game.
Coach Zimmer will have emergency eye surgery tonight and his status for tomorrow's game is uncertain.
STATEMENT: https://t.co/EXnsdKPoGP pic.twitter.com/omVAufQivg
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 1, 2016
Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman said in a statement that he had met with both coaches and players, and that there is a contingency plan in case Mike Zimmer doesn’t coach in the game. Spielman is set to have a conference call with the media Thursday morning at 10am CT, so we’ll likely get clarification at that point.
On Halloween Mike Zimmer did have a procedure to fix a torn retina in his eye. We don’t want to speculate, but perhaps this emergency surgery is in relation to that.
On 10/31, Zimmer underwent a procedure to fix a torn retina in his right eye after scratching it during #Vikings MNF loss to the #Bears.
— Courtney Fallon (@CourtneyFallon_) December 1, 2016
Thursday’s game will mark almost a month to the day that former Vikings Offensive Coordinator Norv Turner resigned, you have to imagine that the Minnesota faithful wish they had a man of his experience in this time.
Part of the experience that Turner has is as the one-time Offensive Coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, and Mike Zimmer has had his own walk through life while wearing the Star. Zimmer worked as the Defensive Backs coach and Defensive Coordinator over his span with the Cowboys (1994-2006). Mike Zimmer is one of the more beloved head coaches across the NFL and his absence would surely have a serious impact on the Vikings (6-5) who are currently on the outside looking in at the NFC playoff landscape.
Eye injuries are seemingly a thing revolving around the Cowboys this season. Linebacker Damien Wilson missed part of Training Camp due to a paintball in the eye. All of our thoughts, prayers, and well wishes are with Coach Zimmer in hopes that surgery goes well and that he heals as soon as possible.
How big of an impact do you think this could have on the Cowboys/Vikings game? Let us know! Comment below, Email me at RJ.Ochoa@SlantSports.com, or Tweet to me at @RJOchoa!
