Aug 4, 2021 - Sports

Why Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is angry

Nick Halter

Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer wears sunglasses while watching practice. — Mike Zimmer looks on during practice. Photo: Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Vikings are already dead last in the sport's standings by one measure.

Driving the news: The team has the lowest vaccination rate of any NFL team, with just 70% of players at least partially vaccinated, the Washington Post's Nicki Jhabvala reported Tuesday.

Across the NFL, 90% of players have received at least one shot, according to Jhabvala.

Why it matters: Head coach Mike Zimmer is growing worried his players will miss games once the season begins.

The team's low rate has already resulted in starting quarterback Kirk Cousins being forced to sit out of practice due to NFL policies requiring an unvaccinated player to quarantine after being in contact with a player with COVID.

Of note: Two other team leaders, Adam Thielen and Harrison Smith, have previously said they weren't yet vaccinated.

What they're saying: Zimmer said some of his players are against the vaccine and he can't change their minds, per The Athletic.

"I probably won't be happy we could've prevented this," Zimmer said. "Like I said, these guys, some of them just won't do it. I shouldn't say this, but some of the things they read (are) just, whew, out there."
"We're very concerned," said team co-owner Mark Wilf.

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Why Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is angry

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