The final play of Minnesota’s victory over the Browns in London featured an odd moment. Defensive end Everson Griffen was sitting on the field, behind Cleveland’s offense, with his shoe off. Trainers ran out to see what was wrong with him.
Griffen said he was fine, but Thursday marked the Vikings second day back from their bye week and the second straight day Griffen didn’t practice.
No Mike Remmers(concussion) again at practice. Everson Griffen (foot) not practicing. Jeremiah Sirles (knee) was back and went through stretching.
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) November 9, 2017
Reporters watching the short portion of practice open to the media said they saw Griffen bursting out of his defensive stance on a side field, and head coach Mike Zimmer believes Griffen will play Sunday at the Redskins.
“He just loves to play,” Zimmer said, via the Pioneer Press. “(Wednesday) he was mad he couldn’t practice. He was grouchy all day.”
It’s unfortunate that Griffen was grumpy, especially when we’re so close to the holidays, but that’s the least of anyone’s concern. The more important issue is how much Griffen’s foot injury could slow him down. Will the NFC Defensive Player of the Month for October be at 100 percent health, and if not, what, 90, 80, 75 percent?
Griffen is third in the NFL with 10 sacks and he has at least one in every game this season, and he won’t be so lucky as to go head-to-head with left tackle T.J. Clemmings, who was beaten routinely by 37-year-old Dwight Freeney last Sunday. But Clemmings will likely be benched with one of Washington’s better linemen coming back from injury.
