MINNEAPOLIS — Four Vikings players suffered injures Sunday that forced them to leave Minnesota's Week 16 home game against Detroit, which the Lions claimed 30-24.
Outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum, who recorded four tackles, went to the turf early in the fourth quarter. He was rushing Jared Goff on a third-and-4 from the Minnesota 8-yard line.
Wonnum was unable to get up as the play continued. He left on a cart after members from both squads approached him to share their support.
"I have great concern about the injury. As of right now, our initial diagnosis on site is a quad injury," Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell said. "The severity of that, I'll have to let you guys know. You can see what D.J. means to our team. He's one of those guys that probably hasn't got enough credit for the year he's had.
"One thing about our guys is we got the right kind of guys. It's as close-knit of a group I've been around," O'Connell said. "That is what makes losses like these hurt. And when a couple of their brothers go down, three, four guys go down with what may be significant injuries, it takes a lot to continue to persevere and push through. I thought the guys trite to do that throughout the football game."
Wonnum started his 14th game of 2023. He's set career highs with 62 tackles and six passes defensed and tied his single-season best with 8.0 sacks. Wonnum also returned a fumble forced by Harrison Smith 51 yards for a touchdown at Carolina.
In addition to Wonnum, the Vikings already were without cornerback Byron Murphy, Jr., who suffered a knee injury in Week 15 at Cincinnati. Rookie cornerback Mekhi Blackmon left the game because of a shoulder injury.
On offense, the Vikings dealt with the losses of rookie receiver Jordan Addison and tight end T.J. Hockenson.
Addison suffered an ankle injury on a deep pas (third-and-7 from the Minnesota 18) that was intercepted by Kerby Joseph and returned 33 yards to the Minnesota 33-yard line with 2:38 remaining in the first half.
Hockenson suffered a knee injury when he was struck with a helmet by Joseph at the end of a 24-yard completion. It was Minnesota's second play of the second half.
All players will be further evaluated this week.
The Vikings fell to 7-8 on the season with two weeks to go in the regular season. Minnesota likely needs to win out and have some help along the way to make the playoffs.
