The Minnesota Vikings wrapped their Week 17 with a win over the Green Bay Packers. Although by the end the team wasn’t fully healthy, the hard-fought victory was enough to bring a smile to head coach Kevin O’Connell’s face, especially because of the offense’s efforts.

The Vikings ran 70 plays for 441 yards, and this is their second-highest total of the season. So, no doubt, the franchise indeed played as per the current demand in the season, which is to play “aggressive.” Well, that’s what coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed while speaking to the media about quarterback Sam Darnold’s offense, and their aim.

O’Connell said, “I know that for us to get to where we want to go, we got to be aggressive and we got to play football in a way that allows us to have our whole offense at our disposal and requires all 11 execute in every single play.” This means Kevin O’Connell believes that success requires every player on the field to execute their role, and while the process might seem routine, it becomes exciting in the heat of competition. He acknowledges that their aggressive, all-in approach is essential for reaching their goals as a team.

In addition, the HC praised quarterback Sam Darnold for his consistency and high-level play throughout the season. He emphasized the importance of adapting their strategy to stay competitive, even when facing a tough defensive front. Explaining this, Kevin O’Connell also gave some examples of how the team balanced their approach, using quick plays and no-huddle offense to create opportunities for bigger, downfield throws.

And this trust and close communication among the team helped the Vikings to win the game, and secure the no.1 seed in the playoffs in NFC. However, as the thrill of post-season is about to start soon, Kevin O’Connell and his team are worried about player injuries.

Kevin O’Connell listed the names of injured players!

During the same post-game presser, coach Kevin O’Connell revealed some names of the players who could be on the injured reserve list. He shared that Pat Jones suffered a right knee injury and hence is expected “to miss a little bit of time.” According to him, further evaluation will be done the next day to determine the extent of the injury.

In addition, O’Connell mentioned that RB Aaron Jones dealt with a quad contusion during the game. While Jones managed to push through for a few solid runs, the team decided to take him out as a precaution. Despite this, Jones stayed on the sidelines with his helmet on, ready to step back in if needed.

For now, nothing has been confirmed yet about the injury status of these players. Hence, it remains to be seen when they come up—will it be the final regular game of this season, or will it be somewhere in the playoffs? And with key players like J.J. McCarthy and NaJee Thompson already out due to injuries, the team might face some difficulties in the playoffs.