The Minnesota Vikings have listed Pro Bowl defensive end Everson Griffen out for Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams because of a “knee/not injury related” issue.
What exactly that issue is has been wildly speculated on by local and national media.
KSTP reports that Griffen was involved in an incident at Hotel Ivy in Minneapolis on Saturday, with the report saying Griffen was threatening to shoot someone while pacing around the hotel lobby.
Griffen was never arrested for the alleged incident on Saturday afternoon, according to multiple reports, and no firearm was seen in his possession.
The Vikings meanwhile strongly denied a report from FOX 9 that suggested Griffen had broken into a teammate’s home, which the TV station has since removed from its story.
Correction: Everson Griffin was never arrested. MPD called to hotel. Hotel personnel say Griffin was making vague threats about “shooting up the place”. He was later *detained* by police in western Hennepin County, taken into protective hold and taken to a hospital for evaluation
— Seth Kaplan đź“ş (@Seth_Kaplan) September 25, 2018
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Griffen has been dealing with a “serious personal health-related issue” for weeks and he is now undergoing a mental health evaluation at a local hospital.
Adding to this: Everson Griffen is being evaluated at a local hospital, I’m told. Again, concerns about his mental health predate last weekend. Two team sources strongly deny a report Griffen was arrested in another alleged incident. https://t.co/Lr6q0Xfiyx
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 25, 2018
Vikings general manager Rick Spielman released the following statement late Monday.
“We are aware of the situation involving Everson Griffen and certainly concerned by what we have heard. We are currently focused on Everson’s well-being and providing the appropriate support for him and his family.”
Griffen didn’t play in the Vikings’ loss to the Bills on Sunday, but he was already listed as “out” because of a knee injury.
More to come if details become available.
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