Former Vikings City Captain All-Michigan All-Conference Safety on Injury Reserve -

The Vikings are without safety and captain Josh Metellus for the remainder of the 2025 season.

Minnesota placed the former Michigan standout on injured reserve Wednesday with a shoulder injury that will require surgery, head coach Kevin O'Connell said.

This will be the first time the 2020 sixth-round pick has missed an NFL game due to injury.He sat out the final game of 2021 while on the COVID-19 protective list.

Metellus' injury is a big loss for the Vikings, who close out the season against the Giants, Lions and Packers. The 5-foot-11, 208-pounder has recorded more than 100 tackles in each of the past two seasons since becoming a full-time starter in 2023 and is on pace to eclipse that mark again in 2025.

He had 86 tackles, two interceptions and a career-high six assists for the Vikings (6-8), who were eliminated from the playoffs.Metellus, who signed a three-year, $36 million contract before the season, has played through a shoulder injury for the past three weeks.

"We've just been evaluating that shoulder, kind of a week-to-week basis, and we got home on Sunday, we went through some medical evaluations on Monday and yesterday, and it's been determined that he's going to keep his shoulder," O'Connell told reporters Wednesday."...Our doctors and Josh feel that this is the right time to not risk any more harm to him.

"One of our leaders, J.G. Along with (Grinard), I'm a guy who I couldn't respect more because of the toughness with which he played through this injury as we approach the tail end.

Metellus totaled 187 tackles, five interceptions and 21 pass breakups at Michigan from 2016-2019.He was a three-time Big Ten honoree.

Latest Michigan Football News:

- Texas took over as defensive coordinator ahead of the Citrus Bowl game against Michigan.

- Police release Sherrone Moore's booking photo, arrest details

Michigan expands athletics investigation after Sharon Moore shooting

- Students saddened by 'classic college closing near University of Michigan'

- Multiple schools seek commitment from Michigan's 4-star QB