UPDATE (Thursday, Dec. 1, 11 a.m.): Mike Zimmer won’t coach for the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night, general manager Rick Spielman announced Thursday morning. Special teams coach Mike Priefer will serve as interim head coach against the Dallas Cowboys.
ORIGINAL STORY: Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer was scheduled to undergo emergency eye surgery Wednesday and might not be able to coach his team in its Week 13 “Thursday Night Football” matchup with the Dallas Cowboys as a result.
The Vikings released a statement Wednesday, with general manager Rick Spielman saying he has “met with the coaches and players and we have a contingency plan in place if Mike is unable to coach against Dallas.”
Vikings-Cowboys will be played at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Zimmer is considered one of the best head coaches in the NFL, and his absence would be a tough blow for a Minnesota team that’s lost five of its last six games after a 5-0 start.
Interim offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur and offensive line coach Tony Sparano have head coaching experience on the Vikings staff.
The Cowboys are 10-1 and have won 10 straight games since a season-opening loss to the New York Giants.
Thumbnail photo via Bruce Kluckhohn/USA TODAY Sports Images
