Kevin O’Connell (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Vikings have announced a suspension of one of their coaching members.

The Minnesota Vikings are suspending offensive coordinator Wes Phillips for three weeks without pay starting today, per Ben Goessling.

This suspension stems from Phillips pleading guilty in February to careless driving after a December arrest on suspicion of drunken driving, via ESPN.com. He will be able to return to work the week of the NFL draft.

The #Vikings are suspending offensive coordinator Wes Phillips without pay for three weeks, after his December arrest on suspicion of drunken driving. Phillips pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of careless driving in February.

His suspension begins today, and ends April 23.

— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) April 2, 2024

The #Vikings have suspended OC Wes Phillips for three weeks after his December arrest on suspicion of drunken driving.

His suspension begins today. pic.twitter.com/YtsoDQmH68

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 2, 2024

The Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator will miss the first week of the Vikings’ offseason workout program, which begins on April 15. His suspension may seem harsh but it actually mirrors the NFL’s typical penalty for players charged with DUI for the first time.

By handing down their own punishment, the Minnesota Vikings won’t have to worry about another suspension from the league. Getting it out of the way now is a lot better than it happening during the 2024 NFL season.

Back in December, the Minnesota Vikings OC was stopped on I-394 just before 10:00 pm and showed signs of impairment, and ultimately his blood alcohol content tested at 0.10, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. The legal limit in Minnesota is 0.08.

He was then booked into the Hennepin County jail and released the next day.

Last month, Phillips accepted an agreement where he pleaded guilty to an amended charge of misdemeanor careless driving and had to pay a $300 fine and a $78 surcharge. He also has to perform eight hours of community work at a non-profit within 60 days.

Minnesota Vikings Hoping For Rebound Season After Tough 2023 Campaign and Losing QB Kirk Cousins

A Minnesota Vikings helmet. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

The Minnesota Vikings losing their offensive coordinator for three weeks is the least of their worries as the team wants to rebound from a tough 2023 season, but they still do not have a quarterback in place to do so.

The team lost Kirk Cousins for the year last year and then lost him in free agency.

The Vikings are widely expected to make major moves ahead of and during the NFL Draft.