Vikings' Danielle Hunter: Unlikely to be at offseason program
Rotowire
Hunter is not expected to attend the start of the Vikings' voluntary offseason program, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Hunter is coming off of a 10.5-sack season in 2022, potentially feeling like he's due for a pay increase. The defensive lineman is due to make $4.9 million in 2023, which is far below market value for the production he had last season. It's unclear how long the three-time Pro Bowler could hold out for, but it's certainly a negotiation process to keep an eye on.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Danielle Hunter: Solid bounce back in 2022
Rotowire
Hunter racked up 65 tackles (46 solo), including 10.5 sacks, and three passes defended while playing all 17 games in the 2022 regular season.
Hunter returned to play every game this season after he was limited to just seven appearances in 2021 due to a season-ending pectoral injury. The 28-year-old also finished with double-digit sacks for the first time since 2019 after being paired up with fellow veteran edge rusher Za'Darius Smith this season. While this pairing did not result in the most productive overall pass rush for Minnesota, they both finished with 10 or more sacks in 2022. Hunter will now enter the final stretch of his five-year, $72 million contract in 2023.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Danielle Hunter: Tallies seven stops, two sacks
Rotowire
Hunter recorded seven tackles (five solo), including two sacks, and a forced fumble in Saturday's 27-24 win over the Giants.
Hunter's pass-rushing skills were on full display this past weekend versus New York, as the veteran linebacker jarred the ball loose on one of the two sacks he registered in the game. With a New Year's Day matchup against the Packers up next, Hunter figures to continue serving as one of Minnesota's key defensive contributors in Week 17.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Danielle Hunter: Cleared Saturday
Rotowire
Hunter (neck) is good to go for Saturday's game against the Colts.
Hunter drew a questionable tag due to a neck issue, but the expectation during the week was that he would ultimately be cleared. Thus, barring any setbacks, look for him to take on his usual workload at weakside linebacker opposide Za'Darius Smith.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Danielle Hunter: Should play Saturday
Rotowire
Hunter (neck) is questionable for Saturday's game against the Colts, but head coach Kevin O'Connell feels good about his chances to play, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
It's unclear when Hunter suffered the injury, but he did play a season-low 66 percent of the team's defensive snaps in Sunday's loss to the Lions. His ability to take the field would be good news for Minnesota, but if he is ultimately ruled out, Patrick Jones would likely find himself with increased opportunities against Indianapolis.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Danielle Hunter: Doesn't practice Wednesday
Rotowire
Hunter didn't practice Wednesday due to an illness.
Hunter, along with four of his Minnesota teammates, was held out of Wednesday's session due to an illness. Considering the 28-year-old suited up and played 67 defensive snaps in the Vikings' Week 13 win over the Jets, it would be somewhat surprising if Hunter were to miss his first game of the season this weekend versus Detroit. He'll have two more practices to ramp up to full speed before the team would have to tag him with an injury designation.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Danielle Hunter: Two sacks in comeback win
Rotowire
Hunter seven tackles (four solo), including two sacks, during Sunday's 20-17 victory over the Commanders.
Hunter logged his second sack of the game as he brought down quarterback Taylor Heinicke for a crucial nine-yard loss on Washington's second-to-last drive, helping to seal the Vikings' comeback win in the fourth quarter. The 28-year-old also logged season highs in both tackles and sacks in this contest. Hunter has now recorded 37 tackles (27 solo), five sacks and two passes defended through eight games in 2022, and he'll look to affect star quarterback Josh Allen this coming Sunday against Buffalo.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Danielle Hunter: Records another sack
Rotowire
Hunter notched six tackles (five solo) and one sack during Sunday's 24-16 win over the Dolphins.
After a slow start to the season, Hunter has picked up his production over the last two games, totaling 12 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks and four QB hurries. The Vikings have a bye in Week 7, so Hunter will look to maintain his strong play against the Cardinals in Week 8.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Danielle Hunter: Records sack in season debut
Rotowire
Hunter had a sack, two quarterback hurries and three total tackles in Sunday's win over Green Bay.
After back-to-back campaigns with at least 14 sacks, Hunter missed the 2020 season with a neck injury and played only seven games last year due to a pectoral injury. It was a good sign to see him return to his prior form and be a big factor in the pass rush. His health could be key to Minnesota's season.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Danielle Hunter: Says he's healthy heading into 2022
Rotowire
Hunter (pectoral) said he's healthy following Tuesday's workout and claimed he could've returned last year if the Vikings had made the playoffs, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
After back-to-back campaigns with at least 14 sacks, Hunter played only seven games last year due to a pectoral injury. There were talks of the Vikings potentially moving on from the talented pass rusher after his injury-plagued campaign, but Minnesota has elected to hold onto their 2015 third-round pick to see if he can get back on track in 2022.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Danielle Hunter: Reinstated from reserve/COVID-19
Rotowire
Hunter (pectoral) was reinstated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday and shifted back to injured reserve, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Hunter was moved to the COVID-19 list Dec. 14, but he will now return to the team, though he'll remain on IR for the rest of the season. The defensive end will continue rehabbing his pectoral injury and try and be ready for the beginning of the 2022 season.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Danielle Hunter: Moves to COVID list
Rotowire
Hunter has shifted from injured reserve to the Vikings' reserve/COVID-19 list, Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune reports.
Hunter was placed on the IR in early-November after suffering a torn pectoral muscle. So, his season is still over, and he will revert back to IR once he can clear the league's COVID protocols.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Danielle Hunter: Shifts to injured reserve
Rotowire
Hunter (pectoral) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Hunter was ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a torn pectoral muscle during Sunday's loss to the Cowboys, and he's now officially on injured reserve. Rookie D.J. Wonnum is likely to move into a starting role in the wake of Hunter's injury.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Danielle Hunter: Three sacks in loss
Rotowire
Hunter had three sacks and seven total tackles in Sunday's loss at Arizona.
Hunter has four sacks in two games as he looks back to his 2019 form after missing last season due to neck surgery.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Danielle Hunter: Ready for Week 1
Rotowire
Hunter (neck) has been at full strength this preseason and is set to start at left defensive end Week 1 at Cincinnati, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. "He's stronger, to my knowledge. He looks a little bigger," Vikings left tackle Rashod Hill said. "He's got some moves that I've never seen on the left before."
Hunter missed last season after surgery to repair a cervical herniated disc. He fully participated in training camp, and there were not reports of any issues. He amassed more than 70 tackles and 14.5 sacks in each of 2018 and 2019, giving him the upside to finish as the top defensive line IDP if he's back to his prior form.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Danielle Hunter: Takes first-team reps at practice
Rotowire
Hunter (neck) took first-team reps at right and left defensive end in Wednesday's first practice of training camp and didn't appear to be limited, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Hunter missed the 2020 season due to a herniated disc that required surgery in October. He didn't participate in spring workouts, but looks back to full speed for training camp. Hunter's return to full health could have a huge impact on the defense as his ability to rush the quarterback (29 sacks across 2018 and 2019) was sorely missed.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Danielle Hunter: Ready for camp
Rotowire
Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said Wednesday that Hunter (neck) looked "fantastic" after reporting to minicamp and should be ready for training camp, Kevin Patra of NFL.com reports.
The 26-year-old quickly joined the team after agreeing to a reworked deal with the Vikings at the start of the week, and he's apparently healthy again after missing the 2020 season due to a herniated disc that required surgery in October. While he didn't participate in minicamp workouts, Hunter's presence in the building along with Zimmer's acknowledgement that the defensive end was "obviously healthy" following a physical suggests that Hunter won't face any restrictions for training camp. Hunter posted 29 sacks across 2018 and 2019, so he should provide a big boost to Minnesota's pass rush if he can stay healthy.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Danielle Hunter: Absent from this week's practices
Rotowire
Hunter (neck) hasn't been in attendance for OTAs this week, the Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. "I've spoken to [Hunter] a few times this offseason,'' teammate Anthony Barr said. "He's going about things the way he thinks he needs to and I support him 100 percent. He's a friend and obviously an incredible player, and we'd love to have him whenever he does decide it's time to show up and get back to work."
Hunter's status for the 2021 season remains a mystery. He missed last season with herniated disc that ultimately required surgery in October. In March, NFL Network reported that Hunter wanted to be the highest-paid defender in the league or be traded. Hunter has three years left on a deal that averages $14.4 million per year. The Vikings have given out little information on Hunter's injury or recovery, and it's not clear if his current absence is related to his contract situation, given that general manager Rick Spielman said in March he hadn't heard demands from Hunter for a new deal. Meanwhile, Hunter's return may be the most important factor for the team, considering its struggles to generate a consistent pass rush last season. Perhaps Hunter's status will become more clear when the team has additional OTAs and a mandatory minicamp in June.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Danielle Hunter: Bound for season-ending surgery
Rotowire
Hunter (neck) will undergo season-ending surgery this week to clean up a herniated disc, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The news of Hunter's procedure comes just hours after the Vikings dealt their other stalwart defensive end, Yannick Ngakoue, to the Ravens. Ngakoue and Hunter were never able to form the fearsome pass-rushing duo the Vikings envisioned, as Hunter was moved to injured reserve shortly before the start of the season due to the neck injury. With the Vikings sitting at 1-5 and Hunter having failed to make much progress in his recovery thus far, the 25-year-old will go under the knife in hopes of finding a more permanent fix for his injury. With Ngakoue now in Baltimore and the two-time Pro Bowler done for the season, an already suspect Vikings pass defense now becomes even weaker.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Danielle Hunter: Still not practicing
Rotowire
Hunter (neck) is not present at Thursday's practice, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
The Vikings still haven't designated Hunter for a return from IR, so at this point it looks like the star defensive end won't play until after the team's Week 7 bye. A lingering neck injury has prevented Hunter from yet taking the field this season.
