Receiver Jordan Addison avoids ‘major injury’ to ankle

BEREA, OHIO – Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell was happy to report Thursday that his squad escaped Browns headquarters without suffering any serious injuries during two joint practices with one of the NFL’s more physical teams.

The biggest scare had come Wednesday when receiver Jordan Addison was carted off the field with what ended up being a sprained left ankle. On Thursday, O’Connell said Addison “avoided a major injury.”

“He’ll work through the rehab process,” O’Connell added. “I look forward to getting him back as fast as possible. I don’t see him missing any extended time or anything like that.”

Receiver Justin Jefferson sounded hopeful that Addison will be ready for the regular season.

“I kind of seen when it happened that it wasn’t going to be a major injury,” Jefferson said. “It always stinks to see a main guy, a starter, go down with an injury like that. He’ll be down for a few weeks, but we need him for Week 1, and as long as we got him for week 1, we’re good.”

Starting inside linebacker Blake Cashman suffered a finger injury while completing Wednesday’s practice and didn’t practice Thursday. Receiver Thomas Thayer suffered a concussion Wednesday, missed Thursday and will not play in Saturday’s preseason game in Cleveland.

“Blake had a little procedure done,” O’Connell said. “As soon as that kind of procedure, stitches and things heal up, Blake will be good to go.”

O’Connell called Thomas’ injury a “scary moment” that could have been worse than a concussion.