After missing an extended period of time for a mental health issue, Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen returned to the field last Sunday against the New Orleans Saints playing 37 of the teams 53 defensive snaps. It was clear that he was a step slow and trying to get back into the groove of things, but he is a defensive leader so even just his presence on the field was huge. Griffen said this weekend against the Detroit Lions he would like to continue to knock off the rust.
“I feel good,” Griffen said, via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. “You know, my conditioning, being a pass rusher, it’s one of the hardest things to do in the National Football League. In any sport, it’s all about timing, hand-eye coordination and the whole nine, moving your feet and getting back there to the quarterback. . . .My No. 1 goal is just to keep on going out there and knocking the rust off more and more each day.”
Everson Griffen had a mental health crisis earlier this year where he threatened to shoot up a hotel and then jumped out of a back of an ambulance. He was not charged with any crimes but the Vikings and Griffen made it a priority that he get the helped he needed before returning to the team.
After consulting with Griffen's doctor's it was decided that he would return to the team last week, but continue to get treatment. Griffen has said he isn't comfortable talking about the incident just yet, but promised that when the time is right he will open up about it.
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