Vikings rumors: Sharrif Floyd injury could end career

The Minnesota Vikings could lose one of their young defensive stars due to complications from his knee surgery.

After missing 15 games in 2016 with a knee injury that eventually placed him on injured reserve, Sharrif Floyd’s future with Minnesota was uncertain after the season, but the team guaranteed his $6.76 million 2017 salary earlier in March; seemingly committing to the fifth-year defensive tackle.

However, Tom Pelissero of USA Today has revealed that his future in the league may not be guaranteed, let alone a spot on a team. Pelissero reports:

"“The nerve that controls Floyd’s quadriceps was disrupted during surgery in September to clean up the meniscus in his right knee, and nearly six months later, the quad still isn’t firing, people with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports.”"

This is terrible news for Floyd, who has shown flashes of his first-round talent (he was the 23rd overall pick in 2013), but hasn’t been able to perform to his lofty potential. As a rookie, he played in 16 games and tallied nine tackles and 2.5 sacks. In 2014, he was elevated to a starting role, racking up 48 tackles and seven sacks over the next two seasons before his lost 2016. He’s been solid against the run, an above-average pass-rusher, and certainly provides a positive presence when on the field.

Still only 25, Floyd had enough support from the team to scoop that hefty 2017 salary, and was expected to provide more inside help to a defense that was already strong; finishing top six in both yards-per-game and point-scoring in 2016.

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The Vikings have already endured one potentially career-threatening injury in the last year, with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater going down last preseason. Will Floyd be forced to retire, or attempt to go through a long rehab process like Bridgewater? Either way, this is another blow for Minnesota.