Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen, who has been away from the team since Sept. 20 to focus on getting mental help after a series of incidents, will resume team activities Wednesday.
“Being around my teammates and coaches is something I have missed for several weeks,” Griffen said in a statement. “While this is an exciting and positive move forward for me, it is only the next step in a longer process. I look forward to once again putting in the work with the guys and contributing to this team in any way I can.
“My larger focus remains on addressing my personal health, and I’m hopeful the time will come when I feel comfortable sharing my story and using my platform to bring awareness to these issues. I continue to be extremely grateful for the constant support from my family, my teammates, the Vikings organization and our tremendous fans.”
Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said the team has been communicating with medical professionals regarding Griffen.
“We are excited to welcome Everson back to the Vikings and to see him around teammates, coaches, and staff — people who care deeply about his well-being,” Spielman said in a statement. “Our focus will continue to be on providing an on-going support system for Everson and his family.”
According to a Minnetrista, Minnesota, police incident report, Les Pico, the Vikings’ executive director of player development, told police that Griffen had been “explosive, screaming and yelling” at the team facility and that he had been struggling in recent weeks.
Then on Sept. 22, Griffen was involved in an incident at Hotel Ivy in downtown Minneapolis, where he had been staying for several days, in which he allegedly threatened to shoot someone if he was not allowed in his room. Griffen was later involved in a separate incident where he showed up at Vikings cornerback Trae Waynes‘ home and allegedly attempted to enter, according to the police report, an allegation that Waynes denied in a statement issued by the Vikings.
Asked by police why he went to Waynes’ home, Griffen said that “God made me do it” and later agreed to go to the hospital. The reporting officer placed a health and welfare hold on Griffen “based upon his actions and information I had acquired about him.”