Skip to content

Report: Zimmer listening to Thursday nighter from home after eye surgery

Joe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Emergency eye surgery will reportedly keep Mike Zimmer from both coaching and watching his team Thursday night.

The Minnesota Vikings head coach will be listening to the prime-time game against the Dallas Cowboys to prevent stress on his eyes, a source told NFL Network's Stacey Dales.

News of the procedure was shared by the club Wednesday night, and the Vikings confirmed Thursday morning that special team coordinator Mike Priefer would fill in as interim head coach.

An update on Zimmer's status will presumably be provided at some point in the week ahead. For the time being, there doesn't appear to be a timetable for his return to the sideline.

"We are taking it one day at a time. We want to get through tonight's game and then tomorrow we will reassess where we're at," general manager Rick Spielman said.

The most recent eye surgery, Zimmer's third in the month of November, was to repair a detached retina.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox