Jerick McKinnon Injury: Updates on Vikings Star's Back and Return

The 2014 NFL season cannot get much worse for the Minnesota Vikings offense, as the team will be without talented rookie Jerick McKinnon. The running back has been placed on the injured reserve.

Continue for updates.

Monday, Dec. 8

McKinnon Had Procedure On Back

Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press passed along the latest on Jerick McKinnon, who has been placed on injured reserve with a lower back injury:

Saturday, Dec. 6 

McKinnon Hits IR

The Vikings provide an update on McKinnon's status:

"

Rookie RB Jerick McKinnon, who missed last Sunday’s game with a lower back injury and was ruled out of tomorrow’s game vs. the Jets on Friday, will miss the rest of the season after being placed on injured reserve today.

 

"

Friday, Dec. 5

McKinnon Ruled Out for Sunday

ESPN's Ben Goessling has the latest on McKinnon:

Friday, Nov. 28

McKinnon Dealing with Back Issue

According to ESPN's Ben Goessling, McKinnon said a back issue would keep him out of the team's Week 13 matchup with the Carolina Panthers:

The 22-year-old has shown flashes, particularly in Week 4 against the Atlanta Falcons, when he ran for 135 yards on 18 carries.

Despite that progress, Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said in October that he preferred Matt Asiata taking a larger role in the offense than McKinnon, per ESPN.com's Chris Tomasson:

However, Zimmer commented that he'd be foolish to cast one of the backs aside in the event that either McKinnon or Asiata began hitting a strong run of form, per Brian Murphy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press:

McKinnon has emerged as a solid situational running back, with his more versatile skill set contrasting with Asiata quite well. He's run for 538 yards this year on 113 carries; however, he's failed to find the end zone, with Asiata getting the ball near the goal line.

The impact of McKinnon's absence will be blunted by the addition of Ben Tate, whom the Vikings claimed off waivers. Although Tate's averaging just 3.1 yards a carry this year, he showed with the Houston Texans how good he can be in the right situation.