Vikings' Hunter out for season with pectoral injury

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter will miss the remainder of the season with a pectoral injury, head coach Mike Zimmer announced Monday.

The pass-rusher suffered the ailment during the second quarter of Sunday night's loss to the Dallas Cowboys and missed the entire second half. Minnesota initially called it a shoulder injury.

Hunter's loss comes as a major blow to a Vikings defense that's relied on him to knock opposing quarterbacks off their spot. He leads Minnesota in sacks (six), tackles for a loss (six), and quarterback hits (10).

The 27-year-old has been one of the NFC's most dominant pass-rushers when healthy, recording 35 sacks over his last 39 games. But Hunter's now set to sit out the second half of 2021 after missing the entire 2020 campaign with a herniated disc in his neck.

The Vikings will have to decide on Hunter's future in the offseason, as they owe him an $18-million roster bonus on the fifth day of the 2022 league year. Minnesota could release him to avoid the payment - Hunter has no more guaranteed money on his deal after this season.

Hunter, a Pro Bowler in 2018 and 2019, has spent his entire seven-year career with the Vikings.

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