Vikings’ $13 Million Star Lacks Desire to Return, Insider Says
The Minnesota Vikings‘ bet on edge rusher Marcus Davenport, their prized free agency signing in March, is looking like a serious bust.
Securing Davenport to a one-year deal worth up to $13 million, the Vikings hoped to pair the former New Orleans Saints first-round pick with Danielle Hunter to form one of the league’s most daunting pass-rush tandems.
But after playing just two full games in the first six weeks due to a right ankle sprain, Davenport underwent surgery on his left ankle and has been on injured reserve ever since.
KSTP’s Darren Wolfson reported on Tuesday, December 19, that the injury doesn’t appear to be in question anymore. Davenport has been out of the walking boot for almost two weeks and the Vikings have “thought he’d be back by now.”
The bigger question is Davenport’s “desire” to be back on the field, according to Wolfson.
“Marcus Davenport, there has been optimism in the building going back weeks that he will be back,” Wolfson said on the SKOR North’s “Mackey and Judd” podcast. “He does have incentive to play. He gets paid these bonuses if he’s active, but there still is some desire questions there. … Ultimately it’s the player. The player has to want it. There are questions about the player’s want there.”
