Injured Vikings LB Jordan Hicks Hopes to Play Again This Season

Vikings linebacker Jordan Hicks, who has been on injured reserve for more than three weeks, is hopeful he'll be able to return to play this season, he told reporters on Thursday.

Hicks went through a very scary situation in Week 10 against the Saints after taking a significant blow to the shin. He developed compartment syndrome in his right leg and had to be rushed to the hospital for an emergency procedure to relieve the pressure and swelling. According to Hicks, after he came out of the game and the adrenaline wore off in the training room, he experienced excruciating pain unlike anything he's previously dealt with in his football career.

"It is the deepest, darkest ache you can probably imagine," Hicks said. "I was fully drenched in sweat, twisting and turning, trying to get comfortable, couldn't get comfortable. Ended up in the fetal position, I'm laying there just trying to focus on breathing because it was so bad. It was excruciating pain."

Had Hicks not gotten the procedure as quickly as he did, he could've been in danger of losing his right leg, doctors told him. He now has a scar on his leg that is roughly a foot long — doctors opened it up to drain and left it that way for four days before sewing it back up — but he suffered no permanent or long-term damage.

"Thankful for the training staff, for the doctors, everybody on the sideline making the quick decision to get me to the hospital," Hicks said.

Hicks returned to the Vikings' facility after his hospital stay and has remained present in the hopes of making a return before the end of the regular season. He'll miss at least two more games and will first be eligible to play against the Lions in Week 16. The Vikings also host the Packers in Week 17 and visit Detroit in Week 18.

Hicks said he was back to walking a couple days after leaving the hospital and feels like his recovery is going well. He's working on building his strength and conditioning back up after taking some time to let his leg heal.

"So far, so good," he said. "We're pretty optimistic about being able to come back this year."

In Hicks' absence, rookie Ivan Pace Jr. has worn the green dot and stepped into an every-down role as the Vikings' primary off-ball linebacker. Troy Dye and Anthony Barr have also had roles on defense.

Thanks for reading. Make sure to bookmark this site and check back daily for the latest Vikings news and analysis all season long.

Subscribe to the Inside the Vikings newsletter

Follow Will Ragatz on Twitter