It’s been a disheartening start to their training camp for the Minnesota Vikings after they suffered a major injury setback. Per ESPN, having suffered a torn ACL, Cornerback Mekhi Blackmon will likely be out for the rest of the season. The injury came just a few days into the Vikings’ inaugural training camp on 24 July 2024 and has severely hampered their original preparations for the season. Placing their defensive setback in a precarious spot now, the former Colorado and USC player showed plenty of promise in his rookie season but will now have to show what kind of mettle he truly has as he’ll be forced to possibly spend the entire season on the sidelines.
The injury has also had an effect on betting stats for the season, with the Vikings’ odds now hovering at +8000. Given the fast-paced and rapidly adaptive world of online sports betting, shifts to odds can occur swiftly and as a result of the slightest change to potential team rosters for a season.
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However, regardless of how you play, some things don’t change and major injuries can still upset the odds. As a result of Blackmon’s sidelining, the 25-year-old now faces a potential career trajectory change. In the past, the severity of injuries like Blackmon’s has been known to derail careers since players are sometimes never able to get back to their best after being sidelined for so long.
That being said, the amazing advancements at the intersection of sports and medical technology now give professional athletes a far better shot at making full recoveries and bouncing back, no matter how bad an injury may seem. At the same time, much will depend on Blackmon and how well he manages his state of mind, something that has repeatedly become a key element of most truly great professional athletes’ repertoires these days.
Managing this knock well and pushing hard to not let it derail his career provides Blackmon an opportunity to dig in deep and truly show his propensity for greatness. While he faces a personal battle to recover in the best way possible and ensure he gets back to his best, the Vikings will likely be feeling the strain too. After a very underwhelming defensive performance last season, the Vikings were hoping for a better showing ahead.
Much of that plan was predicated on tightening up their defense, something Blackmon was integral to. Given the reality of the situation now, there’s no dancing around the fact that the loss of Blackmon is a severe blow to their defense, which has already been pegged as one of the weakest in previous seasons. After ending last season with a defensive passing completion percentage of 70.3% and surrendering 3,986 passing yards across the NFL, it’s clear that improvements are required.
During his rookie season, Blackmon appeared to be the answer, as he provided some notable contributions that included making 41 defensive tackles. Now, his absence is likely going to place a lot of pressure on his teammates in the secondary. Among them, the likes of Akayleb Evans and NaJee Thompson will have to step up. While the Vikings will have to keep all options in mind, it’s hard to say how all this will truly affect the odds from major sportsbooks until the performances start rolling in.
For sports betting enthusiasts, whether you enjoy physical sportsbooks or new-age crypto gambling, staying abreast of names on the high-profile injury roster provides a great way to gain an edge should things shift suddenly and drastically. Time will tell how badly Mekhi Blackmon’s injury truly affects him and his team. Given the fantastic potential he’s already shown, Vikings fans and neutrals alike will hope to see him return to action soon.
While Blackmon will remain out for some time, here are some of the notable players who will be returning to action after long-term injuries:
- Aaron Rodgers – QB (New York Jets)
- Joe Burrow – QB (Cincinnati Bengals)
- Christian Gonzalez – CB (New England Patriots)
- Kirk Cousins – QB (Atlanta Falcons)
- Nick Chubb – RB (Cleveland Browns)
