Two weeks ago, the Browns made cornerback Joe Haden a surprise scratch, even though he was listed as probable. The NFL investigated the situation.
This week, the Vikings surprisingly scratched defensive end Everson Griffen with an illness. Griffen hadn’t previously been on the injury report, and the Vikings had provided no updates indicating that Griffen possibly wouldn’t play.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the NFL will investigate the failure to disclose Griffen’s illness before making him inactive.
In response to a request for comment, the Vikings provided no information beyond the fact that Griffen was out due to an illness. The NFL requires any team who has a player with an injury or illness that could impact his ability to play after 4:00 p.m. ET on the Friday preceding a Sunday game to announce the injury to the local media (including the Associated Press) and the network televising the game. The information also must be given to the other team’s P.R. director and the NFL.
In this case, the Vikings complied with the policy only if Griffen became ill at the moment the team submitted its list of inactives. If he were ill at any point before 11:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, the Vikings had an obligation to alert the media, the Chiefs, and the league.