Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen has been battling a serious mental-health related issue for the past several weeks and currently is undergoing evaluation at a local hospital, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday morning.
"I had two team sources reach out to me to specifically refute a report that Griffen was arrested over the weekend in connection to an attempted break-in at one of his teammate's houses," Pelissero said.
Vikings general manager Rick Spielman released the following statement Monday night:
"We are aware of the situation involving Everson Griffen and certainly concerned by what we have heard. We are focused on Everson's well-being and providing the appropriate support for him and his family."
The Vikings face the Rams this Thursday night in Los Angeles, and Zimmer has already ruled Griffen out for the game.
"The only thing really that we're concerned about for Everson isn't anything to do with football, it's about him getting better," Zimmer told reporters Tuesday. "In the five years that I've been here, I've always loved Everson, the effort that he puts out, the work that he does, the chance to count on him in game time, even in practice. He's always been a really, really good model for us, and obviously he's going through some tough times now."
Griffen signed a four-year, $58 million contract extension with the Vikings in 2017.
