Vikings WR Rondale Moore carted off with ‘significant’ knee injury in preseason game vs. Texans

The Vikings may be without their leading punt returner candidate for an extended period.

Receiver Rondale Moore was carted off in the second quarter of Saturday’s 20-10 preseason win against the Houston Texans with “a pretty significant left knee” injury, coach Kevin O’Connell said, that will require further imaging.

Moore, 25, went down on his first punt return midway through the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. O’Connell joined players in kneeling around Moore as he was evaluated by medical staff. The coach also talked with officials about whether Texans linebacker Jamal Hill had brought down Moore with an illegal hip-drop tackle.

“That’s what I was asking about,” O’Connell said. “It seemed like it had a lot of the characteristics of [a hip-drop tackle], but I know it is a three-part kind of process to actually call that on the field. I don’t think there was any bad intent there.”

Receivers Lucky Jackson and Silas Bolden are listed as the team’s second and third punt return options. Bolden fielded two punts after Moore’s injury, taking one for an 8-yard return.

Moore took his helmet off almost immediately after hitting the ground on the Texans’ sideline near the Vikings’ 11-yard line. He could be seen on video replay grabbing at his left knee.

Moore’s left leg was extended on the cart, and a trainer had a hand on it, but he was not placed in an air cast. He had a towel over his head and pounded the cart with his hands as he left the field.

“Heartbreaking,” O’Connell said. “Anyone at the ballpark tonight could feel the emotion.”

The Vikings were slow to work Moore into action this offseason and have been careful with him throughout camp. He didn’t practice Thursday, a day when several veterans rested, and did not have any targets or touches on offense.

The Vikings lost another player to a serious injury: Undrafted rookie center Zeke Correll, who signed for $65,000 guaranteed out of North Carolina State, suffered a right ankle fracture that was confirmed by X-rays, O’Connell said.

Thirteen Vikings players, including 12 starters, were announced as non-participants in Saturday’s game: receiver Justin Jefferson, left tackle Christian Darrisaw, outside linebackers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, safeties Harrison Smith and Josh Metellus, running back Aaron Jones, cornerback Byron Murphy Jr., linebacker Blake Cashman, defensive tackles Harrison Phillips, Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, and receiver Robert Lewis.

Coaches put Tai Felton, the third-round rookie out of Maryland, in position to make plays in his first NFL action.

He was also prominent on special teams, where he lined up as the starting kick returner alongside running back Ty Chandler. Felton bobbled the opening return before scampering for a 16-yard effort. He then forced a fumble in punt coverage, punching the ball out of the arms of Texans running back Jawhar Jordan in the fourth quarter.

Fourth-string quarterback and former Gopher Max Brosmer made his professional debut in the fourth quarter. He helmed three drives, including the final scoring drive of the game, completing 5 of 8 passes for 47 yards and one touchdown.

With 9:55 on the clock, Brosmer hit Dontae Fleming at the goal line for what was initially ruled a touchdown. A replay review reversed the call to an incomplete pass.

The next snap, Brosmer put the points back on the board, finding Indiana grad Myles Price at the back of the end zone for the Vikings’ second touchdown of the afternoon.

“That was the fourth guy [in the progression],” Brosmer said postgame. “Myles got to a really good spot, cooked his DB up and was wide open in the back of the end zone. It was cool.”

“People don’t talk about how difficult it is to be ready to play when you’ve been ready to play when you’ve kind of just been watching the entire game, taking mental notes of the reps the guys are taking and cheering on your guys,” Brosmer said. “It’s something you kind of have to learn as a quarterback in the NFL ‘cause there’s only one guy that plays. This is a good mental rep and a good physical rep for me, and for the rest of the guys.”