“Minimal” chance John Sullivan returns to Vikings in 2015

So, it sounds very likely that the Vikings used their IR-return spot for this season on a player that will not be returning after all.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer opened his press conference this afternoon by announcing that center John Sullivan is unlikely to return this season after having a second surgery on his back recently.

“It was disappointing”, Zimmer added.

That’s the seventh-highest rate in the league, and the Vikings had hoped Sullivan – whom Bridgewater had praised for handling numerous Vikings’ protection calls during his rookie season – could help improve the unit when he came back. Floyd recently had a piece of cartilage removed, Zimmer said, declining to speculate about a timetable for his return. He was eligible to return in Week 9.

Sullivan was placed on injured reserve September 10 with a designation to return, so the Vikings were expecting him to be healed by midseason.

Sullivan had initially been held out since August. 18, playing through what he thought was another case of a sore back during the preseason before deciding to shut it down.

Backup Joe Berger has started the first six games and will continue as the starter as long as he’s healthy.

“I’ve heard all kinds of ranges, so we’ll see”, Zimmer said. “But overall, he’s done a good job”. As a result, Zimmer says the chances that he’ll play again this season are “minimal”. As soon as we get more information on the severity of his injury and duration that he will miss, we’ll be sure to pass that news along.