The Minnesota Vikings have faced a challenging offseason, and with the first preseason game just a week away, further setbacks could put the roster in a difficult position ahead of the final cuts to the 53-man roster.
The team has been hit hard by injuries during training camp, affecting their preparation for the 2024 NFL season and their competitiveness in the tough NFC North division. Unfortunately, more bad news has emerged, as a recent defensive acquisition, who has been taking first-team reps, is now uncertain for the upcoming season.
New Vikings defender Jerry Tillery left practice early on Saturday due to an injury.
Alec Lewis of The Athletic reported that the former Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle, a first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, went down during practice.
Vikings DT Jerry Tillery was down for a few minutes. The cart came out, but instead Tillery got on the golf cart. Didn’t look good at all. He’d been taking reps with 1s in 5-down looks at DT.
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) August 3, 2024
Tillery was expected to be a starter on the Vikings defense this season, lining up next to Harrison Phillips and Jonathan Bullard in Brian Flores’ defensive scheme. His injury opens the door for Jaquelin Roy to get more reps and potentially step up. Until there’s an update on Tillery’s status, the defensive line remains a work-in-progress that the Vikings will need to monitor closely this year.
Seeing Tillery down for several minutes and being carted off is concerning. If the injury is serious, the Vikings will need someone to fill the void while the 6-foot-6, 295-pound defensive tackle recovers.
Hopefully, Tillery’s injury isn’t severe, and he can return to team activities soon. He signed a one-year deal with Minnesota this offseason worth $2.75 million, with $1.47 million guaranteed.
Despite not having a significant injury history, Tillery’s absence will leave a substantial gap in Minnesota’s defensive line. Already a relatively thin unit, the Vikings’ defensive line can’t afford to lose key players, especially this early in the season. While there are options in free agency, the hope is that Jerry Tillery will return to practice at full strength soon.
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