Pat Elflein to have surgery on left ankle

The most productive member of the Minnesota Vikings’ rookie class of 2017 is going to have a slow start to his 2018 offseason.

Pat Elflein, the rookie who started 16 of 18 games at center this year for the Vikings, fractured his left ankle during the NFC Championship Game, and will be having surgery on it soon.

Elflein became the first rookie to step in and start at center for the Vikings since Hall of Famer Mick Tingelhoff in 1962. He was part of a vastly improved Minnesota offensive line in 2017, and will be a key to the unit going forward.

Head coach Mike Zimmer did not offer many details about Elflein’s surgery, other than to say it would be performed in Green Bay. . .why, I don’t know. . .and that the hope is that Elflein will be ready for the offseason program.

Here’s hoping for a successful surgery for Pat Elflein and that he’ll be ready to go when spring rolls around.