Vikings CB Griffin will probably not return in time for next season

The Minnesota Vikings cornerback Cedric Griffin might not be seen in his No. 23 Vikings jersey for quite a long time while he is to rehabilitate after the surgery he will undergo to repair an injured left knee next week.

Griffin was hurt while covering the overtime kickoff in Vikings’ loss to the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship Game. Coach Brad Childress said Tuesday that the cornerback needs to have a surgery and the recovery may take long enough to keep Griffin out for the beginning of the next season, six to nine months.

With starting cornerback Antoine Winfield missing two months with a broken right foot, Griffin led the Vikings with four interceptions this season and helped stabilize the secondary team.

Middle linebacker E.J. Henderson may also miss some part of next season because of badly broken left thigh bone. So it seems that the Vikings need some plan B with defensive starters for next season.