John Carlson Suffers MCL Sprain

The Minnesota Vikings plan on using a heavy dose of two tight end sets. Although it is not season ending, Vikings tight end John Carlson is expected to miss at least two weeks, if not longer, due to a MCL sprain in his knee suffered in Tuesday’s afternoon practice.

Carlson, 28, signed a five-year, $25 million contract with the Vikings in March and is expected to get a lot of playing time in the Vikings two tight end sets. Carlson missed all of last season due to a torn labrum in his shoulder that required season-ending surgery.

Coach Leslie Frazier said the initial diagnosis was a sprained medial collateral ligament. It was later confirmed by a MRI that the injury was just a sprain and the ligament was not torn.

Carlson is expected to miss up to two weeks, but the length of his absence could last longer, including missing multiple preseason games. This would be the perfect time for Mickey Shuler, Allen Reisner and Rhett Ellison to step up.