Vikings co-owner and president Mark Wilf joined coach Mike Zimmer's public battle cry, voicing concerns Tuesday morning about his team's unvaccinated players and a $31 million franchise quarterback who's been sidelined by COVID-19 protocols while seemingly refusing to get the shot.
"We're very concerned," Wilf said during his annual training camp news conference. "It's safe to say our No. 1 priority is the health and safety of our players, our coaches, our staff and ultimately the entire community. We're really encouraging people to take the vaccines."
Wilf said the health concerns align with the team's competitive concerns. Among the team's apparent vaccine resisters are starting quarterback Kirk Cousins, two of his backups and assistant coach Rick Dennison, who's gone from one of the league's more respected offensive line coaches to virtual consultant.
Wilf said ownership will continue stressing education and up-to-date information from the league with hopes that the vaccine holdouts relent. There appears to be a long way to go.
Though Wilf would not reveal the team's percentage of vaccinated players, a reporter for the Washington Post, citing an anonymous source, reported that the Vikings had the lowest vaccination rate in the league, at 70% with at least one shot and 64.5% fully vaccinated.
"Everyone has a choice to make and you got to game your own decisions," linebacker Anthony Barr said. "I think we're all very respectful of one another's decisions. There's never been any kind of division or conflicts. It's your choice to make and you live with the results."
Meanwhile, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy tweeted Tuesday, "The NFL hit the 90 percent mark today of players who are fully vaccinated or have had at least one shot. 9 teams are above 95% and 27 teams are 85+ percent."
Cousins is out because he came in close contact with backup quarterback Kellen Mond, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday. The earliest Cousins can return is Thursday, when he will have missed four practices.
