The Facts: Patterson, who left the team's Friday practice after landing awkwardly on his left shoulder following a diving catch, should be back relatively soon. A league source said Saturday morning that Patterson's injury was "minor in nature," and added it shouldn't take Patterson too long to get back to 100 percent.
Diehards Line:
As ESPN.com's Ben Goessling suggests, the news likely comes as a relief for the 2013 first-round pick, who again led the NFL in kick return average last season but didn't have his fifth-year option picked up this spring. The Vikings have called on Patterson to become a more reliable receiver, after shifting him away from the multi-faceted role he had during his rookie season under former offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave. As Patterson has struggled to master the nuances of route-running, he has seen his role in the offense dissipate. He caught only two passes in 2015 and was targeted with just three throws. Patterson spent time with a route-running coach this offseason, though, and coach Mike Zimmer sounded encouraged by Patterson's approach during the Vikings' OTAs and minicamp this spring.