One of the reasons the Minnesota Vikings faced such strong criticism for drafting Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks in the first round was his health status. Banks underwent surgery on his left foot this spring after suffering a broken bone during the NFL combine in February.
Prior to the 2026 NFL Draft, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Banks was on track for doctors to fully clear him for football activities in early June.
On Friday, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell emphasized the positive mental strides Banks will be able to take with his development in May. At the same time, though, O’Connell appeared to change the return timeline for the first-rounder.
“We’re happy with where he’s at, all things considered,” O’Connell told reporters. “It might, and I can keep you guys updated on that as we go, but you’re really already into a chilly month of May here. So, you’re already into a point where we want to have our eyes on that end-of-July date, so he can hopefully have a seamless transition into training camp and work backwards from there.”
The Vikings selected Banks at No. 18 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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