Vikings lose linebacker Anthony Barr for season with torn pec

Anthony Barr will not play another snap in 2020.

The Minnesota Vikings are not the only 0-2 team in the NFL, but they might be the most disappointing. After giving Kirk Cousins and Dalvin Cook new contracts in the offseason, their offense has looked pathetic without Stefon Diggs and Kevin Stefanski. The defensive side of the ball has been sliced apart over the first two games, and things are going to get much uglier after this injury update regarding linebacker Anthony Barr.

Ian Rapoport has confirmed that Minnesota’s ugly start to the season is about to get even worse, as Barr will miss the remainder of the 2020 season after tearing a pec muscle during their loss against the Indianapolis Colts. This defense is already missing star pass rusher Danielle Hunter.

Anthony Barr has been a mainstay of Mike Zimmer’s defense for years

After the Vikings picked Barr ninth overall in the 2014 NFL Draft out of UCLA, Zimmer made him one of the league’s best off-ball linebackers. Barr has made four Pro Bowls during his Vikings career, routinely serving as one of the leaders on a Vikings defense that ranked near the top of the league in many important categories.

Injuries have been a bit of a problem for Barr, as he’s only played in a full 16 games just twice in his seven-year career. The Vikings picked up Ryan Connelly off waivers from the New York Giants and used a fourth-round pick on former Oregon stud Troy Dye. Both of them should get a crack at replacing Barr.

The Vikings have stumbled out of the gate, and both the Bears and Packers starting the season off 2-0 has to be concerning for their chances of making it to the postseason. For a defense that thrived off of Barr’s ability to line up basically anywhere and do anything, this has to be a debilitation blow.