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Based Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer vents on team's vaccination situation, expects players to miss games during season.
EAGAN, Minn. – As the Minnesota Vikings began their second week of training camp down three of four quarterbacks due to a COVID-19 interruption, coach Mike Zimmer doubled down on his frustrations aimed at unvaccinated players and the likelihood that the situation his team currently faces could become a reality during the regular season.
"I just feel like we're going to have guys miss games," Zimmer said. "There are so many cases going on right now. We're going to have guys miss some games and we have to be prepared for it."
The Vikings placed quarterbacks Kirk Cousins, Kellen Mond and Nate Stanley on the COVID-19 reserve list on Sunday one day after Jake Browning was the only QB available for Minnesota's Saturday evening practice. Minnesota rookie receiver Myron Mitchell was also placed onto the COVID-19 reserve list on Monday.
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Earlier Saturday, Mond returned a positive test for COVID-19. As a result, Cousins and Stanley, who are deemed high-risk close contacts because they are unvaccinated, according to a league source, have to isolate for five days before they're eligible to come off the reserve list and return to practice.
Zimmer didn't mask his frustrations at his players and "everybody" who has not received the COVID-19 vaccine. "Going through all the things you had to do last year with masks, protocol, traveling, can't leave for a day, can't go out and see your family and all the things – can't go out to dinner on the road, have to wear masks on the plane, all that stuff. It was just difficult," Zimmer said. "I just don't understand. I just don't understand. I think we could put this thing to bed if we all do this. But it is what it is."
The Vikings coach said he spoke again with his team regarding his stance on vaccinations and the negative consequences of being unvaccinated following Saturday's disruption.
"I talked to the team, and like I said before, there are quite a few guys that are just against it," Zimmer said. "I'm not going to be able to change their mind, so, it's like half the country, I guess."
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/31944606/minnesota-vikings-coach-mike-zimmer-vents-team-vaccination-situation-expects-players-miss-games