Jared Allen is without question a tough guy.
In six years with the Vikings he played in 99 consecutive games and racked up 88.5 sacks (including playoffs).
The 33-year-old potential future Hall of Fame-er however is likely to miss his sixth career game when the Carolina Panthers play the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship Game this Sunday.
Allen suffered a broken bone in his foot and Carolina head coach Ron Rivera said Allen is doubtful to play, according to NFL.com.
“Allen plans to see Dr. Robert Anderson this week, likely Tuesday, to evaluate whether he risks permanent damage by playing Sunday, a source told NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport.”
Rapoport then updated his report on Monday by saying Allen plans to play through the pain.
Update on #Panthers DE Jared Allen: Nothing has changed from yesterday. Broken small bone near his pinky. He still plans to play through it.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 18, 2016
According to the Charlotte Observer, Allen played the final two series of Sunday’s game against Seattle with the injury. He finished with three hits on quarterback Russell Wilson.
“His mentality is, he’s going to want to do everything he can to play, knowing him,” Rivera said Monday, via the Observer. “We’ve got to be smart about this. This is the opportunity to get to the next step, but we can’t risk certain things trying to get there.”
An update on Allen’s chances of playing probably won’t come until Friday.
Allen has never played in the Super Bowl. He came close in 2009-10 but the Vikings lost to the New Orleans Saints in the only other NFC Championship Game he’s played in.
