Vikings cornerback Mekhi Blackmon tears ACL in opening practice of training camp AP source says

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) cornerback Mekhi Blackmon tore his ACL during a drill in Darius Bazley Jersey the on Wednesday, a person with knowledge of the injury said.The person spoke to The A sociated Pre s on condition of anonymity because the team had not yet announced the diagnosis. It's a big blow to a position group that was already an area of concern.Blackmon, a second-year player out of Southern California who showed flashes of promise last season after being drafted in the third round, hurt his knee during a 7-on-7 pa sing drill Josh Hall Jersey . He was tended to by the medical staff for several minutes on the sideline and eventually walked slowly off the field and into the training room for further examination.Blackmon played in 15 games as a rookie and was a fixture in the team's nickel package. He had one interception, one fumble recovery and Aleksej Pokusevski Jersey eight pa ses defensed.ADVERTISEMENT The Vikings are still grieving the , who was killed in a car crash along with two friends earlier this month in Maryland. Several coaches are scheduled to attend the funeral Nerlens Noel Jersey on Friday for the fourth-round draft pick out of Oregon.Byron Murphy Jr. is back at one starting spot and eighth-year veteran Shaq Griffin signed as a free agent. But with Blackmon sidelined and the lo s of Jackson, the cornerback group appears particularly vulnerable coming off a season when the Vikings' pa s coverage faltered down the stretch. Duke Shelley was signed on Tuesday for depth and experience. Akayleb Evans is back after starting Danilo Gallinari Jersey 15 games, but he struggled down the stretch. Andrew Booth Jr., who was from the same underperforming 2022 draft cla s as Evans, is another option who has yet to prove he can stay healthy and contribute regularly.___AP NFL: