The Vikings announce that Jordan Hicks will return to practice.
Jordan Hicks is on his way back into play.
Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell stated Tuesday that Hicks will return to practice, effectively initiating the 21-day window in which the team can determine whether to move him off injured reserve to the 53-man roster.
Hicks sustained an injury in Minnesota’s Week 10 game against the Saints. What was initially assumed to be a deep bruise swiftly progressed to compartment syndrome, and Hicks was transported to the hospital by ambulance for emergency surgery. On November 14, he was placed on Injured Reserve, indicating that he would be out for at least four games.
Hicks expressed confidence about returning to the pitch during the regular season in a media interview on December 7.
Hicks finished the first ten games of the season with 87 tackles, one interception, a sack, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and four passes defensed.
In Hicks’ absence, rookie linebacker Ivan Pace, Jr. has taken over “green dot” helmet duties, and Troy Dye has moved into a starting role.
Though the defence has handled the absence of Hicks quite well, he will undoubtedly be welcomed back with open arms.
O’Connell said it will be “huge” to have Hicks back, especially if he can participate in this weekend’s game against the Lions at US Bank Stadium.
“What Jordan brings from a communication standpoint in that huddle, or when people are kind of in that 2-minute mode and he can be an extension of Flo’ (Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores) out there, as far as getting the call, the checks, the alerts – the communication to all 11 guys,” O’Connell said. “He’s got such great rapport with [Harrison Smith], [Josh] Metellus and [Camryn] Bynum on the back end, and then making sure the front’s dialed in with Danielle [Hunter] and D.J. [Wonnum] and those interior guys to go have the best rush plan tied in with the coverage – if we’re sending a pressure, if we’re dropping into coverage, whatever that looks like, you feel ultimately the most comfortable when you’ve got a veteran presence like Jordan who just has total ownership of what we’re doing.
