The Minnesota Vikings’ defense has been a big part of the turnaround the team has had from a 1-4 record to their current five-game winning streak. Now, they’re going to have to play most of the rest of the season without one of the biggest parts of that turnaround.

The team has announced that linebacker Jordan Hicks has been placed on injured reserve, meaning that he will miss at least the next four games. He will be eligible to come back in time for the Week 16 game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Hicks collided with Camryn Bynum during the Vikings’ win over the New Orleans Saints this past Sunday and left the game with what was classed as a shin injury. He later experienced compartment syndrome and had to undergo a procedure to repair the damage to his leg.

Hicks has had a huge season for the Minnesota defense, highlighted by him being named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week back in Week 6 when the Vikings defeated the Chicago Bears. He is also the main point of communication on defense (ie “the guy with the green dot on his helmet”), so someone else is going to take over that role. When Hicks departed the game against the Saints, rookie Ivan Pace Jr. took over that role but we’ll see if that continues going forward.

One of the players that will likely be called on to try to replace Hicks is Anthony Barr. We mentioned yesterday that the team was going to sign him to the practice squad, and this afternoon they made that move official. As I said yesterday, I’m not quite sure how much Barr has left in the tank, but if the team thinks enough of him to bring him in I’m going to defer to them at this point.

Here’s hoping that Jordan Hicks’ time on IR is a short one, because if this team is going to make a run they’re going to need him back in the middle of the defense.

The Vikings placed linebacker Jordan Hicks on injured reserve Tuesday, the team announced.

The team signed four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Anthony Barr to the practice squad to help replace Hicks. Barr spent eight seasons in Minnesota after the Vikings drafted him in the first round in 2014.

Hicks spent two nights in a local hospital after developing compartment syndrome in his right leg Sunday. He underwent an immediate procedure to relieve pressure and swelling in his shin.

He posted a statement on social media after being released from the hospital Tuesday.

“Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me the past few days and for all of your continued prayers,” Hicks wrote. “The surgery was a huge success and I’m grateful for all of the doctors, nurses and medical staff who treated me. Looking forward to getting back out there with the guys soon!”

Defensive coordinator Brian Flores said Hicks is “in good spirits.”

“It’s a big loss to put it bluntly,” Flores said, via Andrew Krammer of the Star-Tribune.

The Vikings also announced they signed running back Myles Gaskin to the practice squad Tuesday. They released defensive lineman Michael Dogbe from the practice squad in a corresponding move.

Gaskin has played one game with the Vikings and one with the Rams this season, seeing eight total special teams snaps.

In his five-year career, Gaskin has 462 touches for 2,056 yards and 13 touchdowns

Jordan Hicks was released from the hospital on Tuesday and is in “good spirits,” Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores said.

The linebacker and defensive captain underwent emergency surgery on his lower right leg to relieve pressure from compartment syndrome on Sunday.

On Tuesday morning, Hicks called surgery a “huge success” on social media. He posted a photo from a hospital bed with his right leg elevated and wrapped. Hicks suffered a shin bruise while tackling Saints running back Alvin Kamara during the first quarter of Sunday’s win. He was transported to a local hospital afterward when swelling continued.

“Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me the past few days and for all your continued prayers,” Hicks wrote. “The surgery was a huge success and I’m grateful for all of the doctors, nurses and medical staff who treated me. Looking forward to getting back out there with the guys soon!”

The Vikings placed Hicks on injured reserve on Tuesday afternoon, meaning he’ll miss at least four games.

The Vikings officially announced the re-signing of linebacker Anthony Barr to the practice squad on Tuesday. He’ll provide depth with the chance to earn a role, Flores said.

Barr, the 31-year-old former Vikings team captain and four-time Pro Bowler, has not played since the Cowboys’ Jan. 22 playoff loss to the 49ers last season. He met with inside linebackers coach Mike Siravo on Tuesday, typically the players’ off-day, as coaches work to get him up to speed on the defense before evaluating his physical ability in practices this week.

Flores said he sees a versatile defender in Barr, who had 58 tackles, a sack and a pass deflection in 14 games for Dallas last season. Barr started 103 games, including five playoff starts, for the Vikings from 2014-2021.

“His role, it’ll be what he makes it over the course of this week,” Flores said. “But he’s played inside backer. He’s played outside backer. He’s been up at the line of scrimmage. I think you can kind of envision him playing in some spots or some things that we do. He can do some of the things that D.J. Wonnum does, some of the things that Hicks does, some of the things that [Josh] Metellus does. But all those things, it took those guys a little bit of time to learn it. We’ll see how this goes.”