Still considered to be out indefinitely after injuring his ankle in Week 3, Minnesota Vikings safety Mistral Raymond was given a bit of good news on Monday afternoon and does not appear headed for surgery according to the Pioneer Press.
Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier expected the worst after seeing Raymond carted off the field in obvious pain against the 49ers, but was relieved after hearing his second-year defensive back's diagnosis come Monday morning. "No high ankle sprain, just good news all the way around," Frazier said. "It looked like something that would require surgery. That's not going to be the case."
While there is no official timetable for Raymond's return, the talented safety was seen on crutches immediately after the game and will give way to Jamarca Sanford for the foreseeable future. A former seventh-round pick in 2009, Sanford was edged by Raymond for the team's starting safety job in training camp, but played quite well on Sunday with seven tackles and one forced fumble against a tough 49ers offense.