Andrew Van Ginkel Suffers Immediate Setback After Week 3 Return

The Minnesota Vikings have already had plenty of ups and downs this season, and it’s a testament to how they’ve dealt with several key injuries. A few of those obstacles have been presented by linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, who has been on and off the field dating back to training camp.

A neck injury sidelined Van Ginkel for an extended period during training camp and preseason before the 30-year-old was put back on the shelf after suffering a concussion during the season opener against the Chicago Bears. Although he made his return against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3, head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters that Van Ginkel will not practice on Wednesday due to his lingering neck issue.

“He came out of the (Bengals) game feeling pretty good and just his head…kind of some residual issues more tied to the neck, I would say,” O’Connell said. “He’s out of the (concussion) protocol and cleared that through the medical process last week, and now we’re just working through what his week is going to look like leading into Sunday.”

Andrew Van Ginkel’s Neck is a Growing Concern for the Vikings

Van Ginkel’s neck is a big reason to worry since it sidelined him for most of August. The fact that it still hasn’t been resolved should make Vikings fans worried beyond Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A former player for Brian Flores with the Miami Dolphins, Van Ginkel made an immediate impact for the Vikings’ defense, logging 11.5 sacks with two interception returns for touchdowns during the 2024 season. His first career Pro Bowl appearance wasn’t the only reward for a tremendous year, as Minnesota signed him to a one-year, $23 million contract extension last summer.

Signed through the 2026 season, Van Ginkel’s neck is one reason to worry about the deal. But the contract was also virtually iron-clad with $22.4 million guaranteed. If the Vikings wanted to get out next offseason, they would have to eat $17.2 million in dead money and another $8.8 million tied into four void years beginning in 2027, according to Over The Cap.

With Dallas Turner having a strong start to the season with a career-high five pressures in Sunday’s win over the Bengals, it’s fair to wonder why the Vikings chose to give Van Ginkel a top-dollar extension instead of letting this year play out.

The good news is that Van Ginkel’s injury hasn’t affected his performance on the field.

He made the most of his eight snaps in the win over the Bengals, logging two sacks on his six pass-rushing snaps. While Van Ginkel may have been able to handle a bigger workload, an all-time performance by Isaiah Rodgers helped the game get out of hand, allowing the Vikings to rest Van Ginkel for the second half.

Despite the rest, Van Ginkel’s neck is still nagging him, and it could be something the Vikings have to manage this season. If Turner can emerge from that, it should take some of the sting out of it. But it also creates a bigger question about Van Ginkel's long-term health.

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