Minnesota Vikings: Can defensive line thrive without Everson Griffen?

Minnesota Vikings star defensive end Everson Griffen has taken an indefinite leave of absence from the team. Can the defensive line thrive without him?

For nearly a decade, Everson Griffen has been an integral part of the Minnesota Vikings defense. This past weekend, however, Griffen checked into a local hospital for a mental health evaluation, and won’t be traveling with the team to Los Angeles for Thursday night’s marquee matchup against the Rams.

With Griffen’s immediate availability looking increasingly murky in the coming weeks, how could his absence affect the Vikings’ defensive line and defense as a whole?

For starters, it’s never easy to replace a team captain. Griffen was named one of six captains for the 2018 season. His continued absence will undoubtedly have an impact on his teammates and coaches. To have an issue like this hanging over the head of the team is extremely taxing.

It’s also nearly impossible to replace the production of someone whose averaging double-digit sacks over the past four seasons, and 13 sacks last year alone. From 2014-17, he generated 64, 79, 68 and 66 quarterback pressures, respectively, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). At one of the most premium positions in all of football, Griffen has been one of the most dominant pass rushers over the past several seasons.

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Of course, Danielle Hunter becomes the main man with Griffen gone, especially after signing a new five-year, $72 million extension this offseason. Hunter already has three sacks in three games this season.

Stepping in for Griffen on the opposite side of Hunter will be backup Stephen Weatherly, a seventh-round pick in 2016. He’ll have big shoes to fill, but has already played 83 snaps this season and is currently ranked the 37th-best edge defender according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He recorded both his first career start and sack on Sunday against Buffalo.

Both Mike Zimmer and Weatherly had great things to say about each other this week, with Zimmer saying he expects Weatherly to fill in just fine in Griffen’s absence. As for what Weatherly said:

Weatherly makes an excellent point about players thriving in Zimmer’s system. In fact, before Zimmer took over as coach in 2014, Griffen had only generated 17.5 sacks since he entered the league in 2010. From 2014-17, however, he recorded 43.5 sacks. Some of that may be attributed to overall growth as a player, but it’d be foolish to think Zimmer had nothing to do with it.

Another player slated to benefit from Griffen’s absence is Tashawn Bower. Bower signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2017, and subsequently found himself on the initial 53-man roster. He has one sack in four career games, but has mostly played a role on special teams. He’ll have a chance to show his true worth Sunday as Weatherly’s and Hunter’s primary backup.

It’s not doomsday for the Vikings’ D-line just yet. With Coach Zimmer’s ability to gain the most out of his players, Minnesota should be able to gain some of Griffen’s lost production back. Losing a Pro Bowl player and franchise leader is obviously devastating. But as the old adage goes: Next man up.

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