“There are quite a few guys that are just against it”: Vikings HC Mike Zimmer frustrated with his unvaccinated players

The Minnesota Vikings began their 2nd week of training camp down 3 of their 4 quarterbacks, including Kirk Cousins. And HC Mike Zimmer is not happy with his players being unvaccinated.

The Vikings placed quarterbacks, Kirk Cousins, Kellen Mond, and Nate Stanley on the COVID-19 reserve list on Sunday one day after Jake Browning was the only QB available for Minnesota’s Saturday evening practice.  Mond returned positive for Covid-19 early on Saturday. As a result, Cousins and Stanley were sidelined.

The other 2 QBs were deemed high-risk close contacts because they are unvaccinated, according to a league source, and have to isolate for five days before they’re eligible to come off the reserve list and return to practice.

The #Vikings are expected to be without three quarterbacks — including starter Kirk Cousins — for tonight’s practice after rookie Kellen Mond tested positive for COVID-19, per league sources.

Cousins is a high-risk close contact. The team is going through contact tracing.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 31, 2021

HC Mike Zimmer is not happy with his players being unvaccinated

“I just feel like we’re going to have guys miss games,” Zimmer said. “There are so many cases going on right now. We’re going to have guys miss some games and we have to be prepared for it.”

Zimmer didn’t mask his frustrations at his players and “everybody” who has not received the COVID-19 vaccine. “Going through all the things you had to do last year with masks, protocol, traveling, can’t leave for a day, can’t go out and see your family and all the things — can’t go out to dinner on the road, have to wear masks on the plane, all that stuff. It was just difficult,” Zimmer said. “I just don’t understand. I think we could put this thing to bed if we all do this. But it is what it is.”

“We could put this thing to bed if we’d all do this, but it is what it is.” – Coach Zimmer pic.twitter.com/nL8PmUZeM1

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 2, 2021

If Cousins and Stanley were vaccinated, they would not be placed on the list until they tested positive for Covid-19

“I talked to the team, and like I said before, there are quite a few guys that are just against it,” Zimmer said. “I’m not going to be able to change their mind, so, it’s like half the country, I guess.”

“It’s their beliefs, so. I don’t know if it’s misinformation. It’s their belief, so whatever they’ve heard or read or been told. Not from — maybe they don’t believe what [NFL chief medical officer] Dr. [Allen] Sills and the NFL is telling them either, so.”

Mike Zimmer makes a lot of sense and one can understand his frustration. The situation they face now can happen anytime during the season. And with the playoffs a real possibility, the Vikings could miss them if some of the players have to sit out due to Covid-19.

 

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