EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Andrew Van Ginkel was coming off the best season of his career, picked for the Pro Bowl for the first time after a promising debut with the Minnesota Vikings that featured 11 1/2 sacks and two interception returns for touchdowns from his edge rusher position for a 14-win team.

Then came the neck problem that kept him out of a significant portion of training camp. After working his way back to play in the opener at Chicago on Sept. 8, Van Ginkel landed on his head that night to trigger a concussion that also aggravated the initial injury. He sat out the following week, returned with two sacks in just eight snaps during the blowout of Cincinnati on Sept. 21 and found himself in the training room again with a concerning recurrence of the neck trouble.

Van Ginkel hasn’t p

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