Minnesota Vikings update Anthony Barr injury for week one
The Minnesota Vikings are optimistic that they will have their Pro Bowl linebacker, Anthony Barr, ready for week one. Barr is making his way back from a torn pectoral muscle that he suffered in week two of last season. On top of that, he is currently dealing with a knee injury that has kept him out the entire preseason.
Barr did not play a single snap in the preseason and has not practiced with the team since August sixth. However, head coach Mike Zimmer is optimistic about the progress he is made from his injuries.
“He’s doing really good,” Zimmer said, via Vikings.com. “I think we have a good plan for him to be ready to go.”
Zimmer said that Barrs progression has been trending in the right direction.
If Barr is unable to play the Minnesota Vikings will look to Blake Lynch to fill in in his place. Lynch was an undrafted signee of the Minnesota Vikings last season. The Baylor University product played in four games and started one for the Vikings. On the season, he recorded a total of 12 tackles (eight solo).
Barr and the Vikings
The former UCLA Bruin was the ninth overall pick in the first round by the Minnesota Vikings in 2014. He has been named second-team All-Pro once in his career in 2015. From then up to the 2018 season, he was selected to the NFL Pro Bowl, making a string of four-straight appearances.
Last week when Zimmer spoke about Barrs’ availability for their week one matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, he had him listed at “50-50”. According to Courtney Cornin of ESPN, when she asked about Barrs status today, the odds of availability still have not changed.
Barr has been a consistent force on the Vikings’ defense. For his career, he has a total of 423 tackles and a combined 87 games. He has had 15 sacks, eight forced fumbles, five fumbles recovered, and two interceptions in the NFL. Coming back from a pictorial injury, and now a knee injury has put Barr a little behind schedule for this season.
With him being out for the majority of last season, he will have to show that he has not lost a step and can still produce at the highest level in the NFL.