In 2020, the Minnesota Vikings season went pear-shaped when injuries tormented the defense. From Danielle Hunter, Michael Pierce (opt-out), Anthony Barr, Mike Hughes, to Eric Kendricks — the defense faceplanted without its essential personnel.
General Manager Rick Spielman spent the offseason preventing a redux of this occurrence. New defensive players joined the roster via free agency, bolstering the expectations for the 2021 campaign while deepening the roster to a level unseen for several years.
But most of those free agents were defenders.
At around 3:00 pm on Friday, the purple earth stood still for the Vikings when second-year wide receiver Justin Jefferson was hurt at training camp.