NFL teams
Ben Goessling, ESPN Staff Writer 7y

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer back at practice after operations on detached retina

NFL, Minnesota Vikings

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer was back at practice on Tuesday, after two operations last week on a detached retina in his right eye. While the coach said doctors "haven't told me I can't do anything," he added he'll be smart about his eye going forward.

Making his regular radio appearance on KFAN-FM, the coach said "I understand the seriousness of the issue," and said he'll follow doctors' orders as the Vikings prepare to face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. The team indicated in a Monday statement that Zimmer would be able to travel on the team flight to Florida this weekend, and Zimmer said there is no gas bubble on his eye to push his retina back into place, which might prevent him from flying. However, while he said he's planning on being in Jacksonville, he added, "There's a lot to be determined as we move forward."

Zimmer has not been made available to reporters since he had emergency eye surgery on Wednesday. He missed the first game of his 23-year NFL coaching career on Thursday night against the Dallas Cowboys, telling KFAN he watched the game on TV at home. "I was supposed to not get emotional," he said. "I did a pretty good job for the most part."

The coach had another procedure on his eye on Friday, but doctors felt good about his progress after the second operation, which was the fourth known procedure on Zimmer's right eye. The coach said he has another appointment on Tuesday or Wednesday.

The Vikings have lost six of their last seven games, and might need to win their final four games to make the playoffs after a 5-0 start. "I feel like I've let a lot of people down," Zimmer said on the radio. "There's a lot of people counting on me; that makes it difficult."

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