The Minnesota Vikings have had one of the best defenses in the NFL since starting 1-4 and opposing quarterbacks have been leaving games against the Purple injured.
Derek Carr became the latest victim of the Vikings’ physical, blitz-heavy approach when he suffered a concussion and shoulder injury early in the second half of the Vikings’ 27-19 win over New Orleans on Sunday. It happened in the fourth quarter when he was blasted by edge rusher Danielle Hunter.
Danielle Hunter with a big hit on Derek Carr. Carr was injured on the play. Jameis Winston comes in and immediately throws a TD Chris Olave. It be like that sometimes
pic.twitter.com/QKCCZ3g2yB— NFL Highs (@frito_paw) November 12, 2023
In Week 6, Bears quarterback Justin Fields was replaced by Tyson Bagent early in the third quarter with a thumb injury. It happened when Fields rolled to his left and was chased down by Hunter.
Fields has yet to return. Bears fans were also angered about a hit on Fields earlier in the game by Vikings linebacker Jordan Hicks when he made a lunging tackle that some fans deemed dirty.
The following week, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy suffered a concussion late in the game after another lunging effort by Hicks when Purdy attempted a QB sneak.
Here’s the moment Brock Purdy took a blow to the head. pic.twitter.com/YZU1cWbhbU
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) October 25, 2023
Purdy was excellent before the hit, completing 19-of-24 passes for 252 yards and a touchdown. After the hit, he threw two interceptions and the Vikings won. The second-year QB was in the concussion protocol but didn’t miss the next game.
In the three games highlighted, the Vikings sacked the opposing quarterbacks nine times and produced 11 QB hits and 36 QB hurries. Minnesota has the highest blitz rate in the league at a whopping 45%, which is about 8% higher than the second most blitz-happy team in the NFL.
Fields, Purdy and Carr aren’t the only quarterbacks to end up on the injury report after facing the Vikings. Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield appeared on the Bucs’ injury report in Week 2 with a shoulder injury after he led the Bucs to a win over the Vikings in Week 1.
