NFL Coach Is ‘Disappointed, Frustrated’ With His Unvaccinated Players

Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer has been very outspoken about his opinion on the COVID-19 vaccine: everyone should get it.

But, despite repeated attempts to get his players protected from the virus, several of Zimmer’s Vikings remain unvaccinated.

Ahead of tonight’s training camp practice in TCO Stadium, three Minnesota quarterbacks have been ruled out due to COVID-19 protocols, including starter Kirk Cousins.

Zimmer shared his frustrations with anyone still reusing to get the vaccine during a press conference earlier today.

“Quite honestly, after everything we went through last year, I’m not surprised one bit,” Zimmer said, per Vikings insider Andrew Krammer. “I am disappointed that this happened. I’m frustrated, not just with my football players who didn’t get vaccinated, but I’m frustrated with everybody [who didn’t].”

Mike Zimmer: “Quite honestly, after everything we went through last year, I’m not surprised one bit. I am disappointed that this happened. I’m frustrated, not just with my football players who didn’t get vaccinated, but I’m frustrated with everybody [who didn’t].”

— Andrew Krammer (@Andrew_Krammer) July 31, 2021

Minnesota rookie QB Kellen Mond tested positive for the virus earlier today. While Cousins hasn’t tested positive yet, he’s considered a high-risk close contact, per NFL Network.

According to training camp protocols, Cousins wouldn’t have to self isolate if he were vaccinated. The veteran quarterback declined to say if he’d received his shots earlier this offseason.

Clearly frustrated with Cousins and others who may not have been vaccinated, Zimmer talked about the importance of being available for your team.

“(Reserve QB) Jake Browning is vaccinated. That helps to be the backup,” he said. “It’s important to be available when you’re playing football – a team sport.”

“This Delta variant is tough and you can see the cases going up,” Zimmer added, per the Vikings’ Twitter account. “For the sake of everybody it’s important, but some don’t see it that way.”

The Vikings were one of the first teams to be hit by the COVID-19 virus during the 2020 season, playing against an infected Tennessee Titans squad in Week 3.

Assistant coach Rick Dennison was fired from the team last week after he refused to get a vaccine.

While the NFL announced on Tuesday that more than 85 percent of the league’s total players have received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, the Vikings have yet to release their team vaccination rate.

The post NFL Coach Is ‘Disappointed, Frustrated’ With His Unvaccinated Players appeared first on The Spun.