In a devastating blow to the Minnesota Vikings, Head Coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed on Friday that offensive tackle Oli Udoh will miss the rest of the 2023 NFL season due to a severe quad injury. During the game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, Oli Udoh got hurt, and it disturbed the team and fans.
Coach O’Connell, while not providing specific details about the injury, expressed his concern, saying,
“We’re still evaluating it but it does not look good. Really, really unfortunate. Disappointed for him. We’ll provide more details when we get more information on that.”
This news has disrupted the Vikings’ offensive line, as Udoh had shown great promise as a young talent.
Head Coach Kevin O'Connell announces Olisaemeka Udoh suffered a season-ending quad injury last night.
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 15, 2023
Oli Udoh, a sixth-round pick from Elon University in 2019, had recently returned to the Vikings on a new contract in March. Over his time with the team, he had made significant progress and was becoming an important part of the offensive line.
In the 2023 season, Udoh had the opportunity to showcase his skills in two games for the Vikings, even earning a start as an offensive tackle. Oli Udoh was doing really well on the field, and everyone thought he would help the team win. When he first joined the Vikings, he signed a contract for four years that was worth $2,686,964 contract including a $166,964 signing bonus and guaranteed money.
He got better and better as a player, and the team really progressed. But now that he’s hurt and won’t be able to play for the rest of the season, it’s going to be tough for the team.
The Vikings are going to put Udoh on a special list for injured players, and they’ll try to find someone else to take his place. Everybody, including the fans and his teammates, is hoping that he gets better quickly and completely recovers from his injury