Vikings' Pat Shurmur named PFWA Assistant Coach of the Year

After cobbling together a productive offense despite major injuries at quarterback and running back, Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur won the Professional Football Writers of America Assistant Coach of the Year Award on Thursday.

Shurmur is the second Vikings coach to garner this honor, established in 1993, joining offensive coordinator Brian Billick in 1998.

In his first full season in the role, Shurmur led the Vikings offense to 11th in the NFL at 358.9 yards per game and seventh in the league with 68 plays of 20 yards or more. That was despite playing without Sam Bradford and Dalvin Cook for most of the season.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Shurmur deserved the honor. "He's done outstanding with getting the players, mixing them in, using them in the right place. Done a good job of molding everything together," Zimmer said. "He's a good guy. We've worked well together, and I think he works well with the rest of the staff."

The 52-year-old Shurmur also demurred on the award, shifting a lot of the credit to his staff and fellow coaches. He likely won't be a part of that big happy family come next season, as he is expected to take the New York Giants head coaching job, although he is staying mum on the topic for now.

"There's a time and place for everything. This is not the time or the place to talk about that," Shurmur said. "It's just part of staying in the moment, and our focus right now is to put together a really good plan, get on a plane and go to Philadelphia and get it on."

Apparently, Joe Berger's retirement plans hinge on fellow offensive lineman Mike Remmers. Well, at least partly.

"I just remember him being a great guy," Berger said of Remmers' first stint with the Vikings back in 2013. "I was excited to see we signed him this offseason. He, quite frankly, was one of the reasons I chose to come back."

Berger started all 16 games this regular season for only the second time in his 13-year NFL career, the majority of those at right guard next to Remmers at right tackle. But after seven seasons with the Vikings, Berger, 35, is contemplating an exit.

"My thought is that this is it. However, I'm not going to try to make that decision now in the middle of all this," Berger said. "That will be a decision I make offseason, if anybody even wants me back. We'll make that decision March, April."

Should this be Berger's last season, he is making a pretty sweet departure, with the Vikings heading into the NFC Championship Game on Sunday at Philadelphia.

"Yeah, no question, it's been great. It's a great year," Berger said. "It's been fun. It's a great group of guys to play with, maybe one of my funnest years that I've had. Obviously, winning 14 games helps that, you know, winning games is fun."

So while his comeback situation is still to be determined, the Vikings could try to entice Berger's return with either A) the promise of winning more games or B) a possible reunion with Remmers. Injuries separated the pair recently, as Berger returned to his old position of center in the regular-season finale vs. Chicago while Remmers has slotted in at right guard against the Bears and left guard vs. New Orleans.

"I loved playing next to Mike throughout the year," Berger said. "Kind of bummed that he's a guy away from me now. But that's what we need to win the games."

Adam Thielen had limited participation in practice Thursday, a day after the Pro Bowl receiver missed practice because of a lower back injury. Safety Andrew Sendejo again was limited at practice while still recovering from a concussion from Sunday. Cornerback Mackensie Alexander was also limited because of a hip injury.

Nose tackle Shamar Stephen again did not participate, four days after getting sidelined by a knee injury, but he did walk gingerly to the trainer's room in the locker room. Receiver Michael Floyd also wasn't practicing because of an illness.