Vikings lineman hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms

A Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman was hospitalized Tuesday after experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

A source told ESPN on Wednesday that the player was Vikings offensive guard Dakota Dozier, who has been vaccinated.

The club placed Dozier on its COVID-19/Reserve list on Friday.

Zimmer also said that the Vikings had a player, who is vaccinated, go to the hospital last night because he was having issues with breathing. That player is guard Dakota Dozier, per source, who was moved onto the COVID-19/Reserve list. Dozier is stable but still in the hospital.

— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) November 10, 2021

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said Dozier remains hospitalized but is in stable condition, adding that he and dozens of others are getting tested after being in close contact with the guard, according to ESPN. 

“It’s serious stuff, so, I don’t know,” Zimmer said. “Like 29 guys are getting tested because of close contact, including myself. Just do what we do.”

#Vikings HC Mike Zimmer says a vaccinated player went to the emergency room last night due to COVID complications. The player is stable now, but is still in the hospital. Zimmer and 29 players were deemed close contacts and are going to get tested again.

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 10, 2021

Zimmer also said Dozier was hospitalized after he began experiencing difficulty breathing. The coach denied that the lineman was experiencing a reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine, ESPN reported. 

“No, it was COVID. I’m not a doctor, but it was COVID pneumonia or something — he had a hard time breathing,” Zimmer told reporters.  

This news comes as the NFL fined Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his teammate Adam Lazard $14,650 each for attending a Halloween party while unvaccinated, also fining the team $300,000 for violating league COVID-19 protocols. 

ESPN noted that four other Vikings players, including safety Harrison Smith and center Garrett Bradbury, are also currently on the reserve/COVID-19 list.