The injury bug has hit the Minnesota Vikings swiftly and unexpectedly.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reported Wednesday that Vikings cornerback Mekhi Blackmon tore his ACL during the first practice of training camp. Blackmon sustained the injury during the 7-on-7 portion of practice, an unfortunate incident that puts a damper on the opening of camp.
Training camp began Wednesday for the Vikings and several other NFL teams. Seifert noted that Minnesota had high hopes for Blackmon, anticipating that he could potentially be a starter in their nickel defense this season. His injury is a significant setback for the team’s defensive plans.
Blackmon, 25, was a third-round pick out of USC in 2023. In his rookie season, he appeared in 15 games for the Vikings, including three starts. During that time, he recorded 41 combined tackles, defended nine passes, and recovered a fumble, showing promise as a developing player in the secondary.
This injury compounds the challenges already facing the Vikings’ secondary. The team was still reeling from the tragic loss of rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson, who died in a car accident earlier this month. With Blackmon now out for the year, the Vikings face considerable uncertainty in their secondary heading into the new season, necessitating potential adjustments and replacements to fill the gaps left by these unforeseen events.
