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Jonathan Greenard is expected to make his return from a shoulder injury for the Vikings in Week 13
The Minnesota Vikings are entering Week 13 looking for a spark on the offensive side of the ball. With the struggling J.J. McCarthy set to miss the team’s upcoming game due to a concussion, undrafted rookie Max Brosmer will be getting the start under center against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday afternoon.
All eyes are going to be on Brosmer to see how he performs for Minnesota. Ahead of kickoff, though, there has been another big development on the defensive side of the ball for the Vikings involving star defensive lineman Jonathan Greenard, who has missed the past two games while dealing with a shoulder injury.
Jonathan Greenard Expected to Make Return from Injury for Vikings
#Vikings edge Jonathan Greenard (shoulder) is expected to play today after being listed as questionable, while the decision surrounding LT Christian Darrisaw (knee/foot) is coming later today.
After spending the first four seasons of his career with the Houston Texans, Greenard signed a four-year, $76 million contract with the Vikings in free agency. Greenard promptly put together the best season of his career, as he recorded a career-high 59 tackles while also racking up 12 sacks, three pass deflections, and four fumbles forced.
Things haven’t gone as smoothly for Greenard in 2025, as he’s had a much tougher time getting to the quarterback. In nine games, Greenard has just two sacks and nine quarterback hits, as Minnesota’s injury woes along its defensive front have allowed opposing offenses to devote more attention to slowing him down.
Greenard has been dealing with a shoulder injury as of late that has caused him to miss the Vikings’ two most recent contests. Given the team’s struggles, it’s clear they could use one of their top defensive playmakers back on the field sooner rather than later. On Sunday morning, the team received some good news regarding Greenard’s status, as reports indicate he’s on track to return to action for Minnesota.
“Vikings edge Jonathan Greenard (shoulder) is expected to play today after being listed as questionable,” Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported in a post on X.
Vikings Hoping to Get Back in the Win Column in Week 13
GettyJonathan Greenard #58 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on against the Los Angeles Rams.
The combination of the offense’s poor play and the defense’s injury woes has been a recipe for disaster in Minnesota this season. With the playoffs a long shot at this stage of the game, the Vikings are simply looking for signs of hope over the next few weeks. Getting Greenard back should help the defense play up to its expected level, which could give the unit something to build off of as it heads into the offseason and prepares for the 2026 campaign.
Before the team can put this nightmare season in the rearview mirror, though, it still has six games it needs to play. The first of that slate will come in Week 13 against the Seattle Seahawks, who have enjoyed quite a bit of success this season with old friend Sam Darnold leading the way on offense. Greenard’s status will be worth checking before the 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff, but all signs point to him taking the field alongside the rest of his teammates on Sunday afternoon.
Owen Crisafulli Owen Crisafulli is a Breaking News Writer at Heavy. In addition to writing for Heavy, Owen works as a Content Producer for More Views Media. His work has also appeared on ClutchPoints, The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, Basketball Network, and FanSided, where he shared his insights on a variety of sports topics primarily surrounding the NFL, NBA, and MLB. More about Owen Crisafulli
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