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Kevin Seifert
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Vikings extensive receiver Rondale Moore suffered a “fairly vital” damage to his left knee towards the Houston Texans on Saturday, coach Kevin O’Connell mentioned.
The damage got here on Moore’s first play after coming back from a significant damage final season to his proper knee.
O’Connell didn’t present a selected analysis, pointing to an MRI take a look at that will likely be carried out Sunday, however known as the state of affairs “heartbreaking.”
Moore has struggled to remain wholesome because the Arizona Cardinals made him a second-round draft decide in 2021. He missed 9 video games in 2022 due to a wide range of illnesses, after which all of 2024 after struggling a dislocated proper knee when he was in coaching camp with the Atlanta Falcons.
He signed a one-year contract with the Vikings this offseason and was in line to be the crew’s punt returner and potential No. 4 receiver. On his first return, Texans linebacker Jamal Hill tackled him as he ran out of bounds after a 2-yard achieve. Within the course of, Hill pulled Moore awkwardly over his left leg.
Athletic trainers shortly introduced out a cart.
Moore’s frustration was evident; he slammed his fingers so exhausting on the again of the cart that the sound might be heard all through the stadium.
“It is some of the painful issues for me as a head coach after I really feel that emotion,” O’Connell mentioned. “I make a life out of making an attempt to depart others higher than I discovered them. In that state of affairs, there’s nothing I can do, which is the worst feeling as a coach. So that you simply seek the advice of with him and be sure that he is aware of he is not going to be alone.”
O’Connell spoke with members of referee Brad Allen’s officiating crew to ask if Hill’s hit certified as an unlawful hip-drop sort out.
“I’ve to look at the play again earlier than I actually can provide [an answer] on it,” O’Connell mentioned. “Nevertheless it was very, very unlucky. It appeared prefer it had loads of the traits of [the hip-drop tackle], however I do know it’s a three-part sort of course of to truly name that on the sector. We’ll see after we watch the tape. I do not assume there was any dangerous intent there.”
