Mike Zimmer: Minnesota Vikings coach missing OTAs, back in 'a few weeks'

May 22 (UPI) -- An eighth eye surgery will shelf Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer again this offseason, forcing him out of OTAs.

The team released a statement Monday, giving an update on Zimmer. He has had all of the procedures on his right eye since Halloween.

"As the Vikings begin OTA practices, Coach Zimmer will be taking time away from the team to dedicate to recovering from eye surgery and restoring his health," Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said in the statement. "We all agree Mike's health is the priority and we believe rest and recovery are in his best interest for the long term. We anticipate Mike back on the field in a few weeks."

Zimmer, 60, is in his fourth season coaching the Vikings. He has a 26-22 record in 48 games as an NFL head coach. The Peoria, Ill. native began his coaching career as an assistant at Missouri. He also served as an assistant and defensive coordinator at Weber State and Washington State, before joining the NFL ranks in 1994 as an assistant coach for the Dallas Cowboys. Zimmer spent 20 seasons as an assistant, defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator with the Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals before finally becoming a head coach in 2014 for the Vikings.

He had an eye surgery in April and another just last week. Zimmer had surgery for a detached retina on Nov. 30 and missed the Vikings' Dec. 1 home loss to the Cowboys at U.S. Bank Stadium. Zimmer scratched his eye during the Vikings' Oct. 31 loss to the Chicago Bears and had his first surgery for a torn retina in early November.

The Vikings (8-8) began the 2016 season with five straight victories, before losing six of their next seven games.