Vikings linebacker Jordan Hicks was hospitalized after suffering compartment syndrome from a direct hit to his shin in the team’s 27–19 victory against the Saints on Sunday, head coach Kevin O’Connell announced Monday during Minnesota’s news conference.
O’Connell said Hicks underwent a procedure to reduce the pressure from a contusion in his shin and to “address some of the complications from that direct trauma” to his lower leg. Hicks suffered the injury during the first quarter of the game and exited the field before being evaluated by the Vikings’ medical staff.
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However, Hicks managed to return in the second quarter before leaving the contest again in the third quarter and was later ruled out for the remainder of the game. O’Connell told reporters that if there had not been a sense of urgency to get Hicks to the hospital, things could have been worse for the veteran linebacker.
“…The damage it [contusion] can cause if not handled with the utmost level of concern like our guys showed, could have been something that could have been very serious,” O’Connell said.
Hicks, the Vikings leading tackler, has registered 87 tackles, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and one sack this season.
