The Facts: When the Vikings face the Cowboys on Thursday Night Football, Minnesota's head coach may not be available for the game. Vikings G.M. Rick Spielman has announced that coach Mike Zimmer will have emergency eye surgery on Wednesday night, and that his status for Thursday night's game is uncertain.
Diehards Line:Zimmer previously had at least one procedure to repair a torn retina, following the team’s October 31 game at Chicago. The Vikings have not named an interim coach in the event Zimmer is unable to attend the game; however, Spielman says that the team has a “contingency plan” in place. Remember: The team has two former NFL head coaches on staff in Pat Shurmur and Tony Sporano.