Not Too Good: Vikings Replace Injured Jabril Cox With Former Browns LB, Standout Specialist … Report
An injured linebacker was dropped by the Minnesota Vikings, and a free agent who was formerly with the Cleveland Browns took his place. On Tuesday, August 13, Minnesota’s official team X account made the announcement. The post read, “The #Vikings have dismissed injured LB Jabril Cox and signed LB Jordan Kunaszyk.” Cox had been out with an injury designation since he hurt his groin against the Las Vegas Raiders in the preseason opener on August 10. After two years and twenty games in Cleveland, where he was a regular on special teams and one of the Browns’ better players, Kunaszyk joined the Vikings. Jordan Kunaszyk is expected to be a special team member and rotational inside linebacker for the Vikings. In 2022, the linebacker contributed more to the defense as a result of injuries that ravaged Cleveland’s linebacking corps and forced all three starters to go on injured reserve (IR) at some point due to season-ending illnesses. In 15 games that season, Kunaszyk made two starts. That season, he recorded 22 combined tackles, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup.Due to the Browns’ improved health in the previous season, Kunaszyk only made five appearances. According to Pro Football Focus, he ended the season with an excellent coverage rating of 73.1 in limited action (26 coverage snaps). The Vikings’ best chance is presumably for Kunaszyk to play inside linebacker in a rotating capacity behind
Outside linebackers are the main pass rushers in Minnesota’s 3-4 basic defense scheme, and Kunaszyk has never been very effective in that scheme since joining the Carolina Panthers in 2019. Prior to joining the Browns, he had spent two years as a player for the Washington Commanders (2020–21). McCarthy will have surgery this week after suffering a meniscus rupture, the team announced during an unplanned news conference. McCarthy suffered the injury during Saturday’s game against the Raiders, according to head coach Kevin O’Connell. However, McCarthy completed the full 30 snaps that his coaches had planned, so it’s possible that he played some after tearing the ligament. “I would be making estimates about a timescale
McCarthy will have surgery this week after suffering a meniscus rupture, the team announced during an unplanned news conference. McCarthy suffered the injury during Saturday’s game against the Raiders, according to head coach Kevin O’Connell. However, McCarthy completed the full 30 snaps that his coaches had planned, so it’s possible that he played some after tearing the ligament. O’Connell told reporters, “I would be speculating on a date to return at this point.” “First, we must determine the nature of the injury, hopefully in less time than in more. The possible severity will arise when we carry out that process.