Vikings Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips Suspended But Won't Miss Camps, Practices Or Games

The Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday confirmed that offensive coordinator Wes Phillips has begun serving a suspension tied to his December arrest on DWI charges.

The three-week suspension without pay will conclude April 22, so Phillips will be able to return to work April 23. 

And while that means Phillips will miss portions of the team's draft preparation, the suspension will not affect his on-field coaching duties to any degree. 

So, as uncomfortable suspensions without pay may be, this one is so far quite convenient for Phillips.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 24: Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips throws a ball on the field before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 24, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Wes Phillips Misses No Games, Practices

That can be said because the coach who was arrested in-season in 2023 and entered a guilty plea to an amended careless driving charge in February, will apparently miss no time on the practice field or in a game at all.

Phillips was arrested on Dec. 8, which was a Friday, and bonded out by Saturday morning in time to fly to the Vikings' game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. He coached in that 3-0 Vikings victory.

He's not currently slated to miss any games in 2024 unless the NFL intervenes and exacts sanctions on the coach tied to the league's personal conduct policy. OutKick reached out to the NFL on Tuesday to see if the league is considering a further suspension beyond the one by the Vikings, but the league has not responded.

[Update: An NFL spokesman is telling OutKick that the club suspension ends the matter.]

With the NFL satisfied by the club's suspension, Phillips is in the clear after April 22.

MINNEAPOLIS - OCTOBER 09: Offensive coordinator Wes Phillips (L) and head coach Kevin O'Connell of the Minnesota Vikings look on before the start of the game against the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Bears 29-22. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images).

Different Approach For Players

Consider the difference between that approach and one exacted on players:

In November, Raiders cornerback Roderic Teamer was arrested on drunk driving and speeding charges, both misdemeanors.The arrest happened on a Saturday and he was inactive for the Raiders game the next day. Then he was released by the team a couple of days later.

Four players were deemed to have violated the NFL personal conduct policy last year. All the incidents that led to the suspensions happened in the offseason. None of those incidents were related to drunk driving, but all served their suspensions in-season.  

The Vikings begin their offseason conditioning program April 15, but under the collective bargaining agreement that makes offseason conditioning a three-phase program, there is no on-field work in Phase One the first two weeks.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 11: Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips of the Minnesota Vikings on the field before the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 11, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

 Wes Phillips Is Contrite

All the work in Phase One is limited to meetings, strength and conditioning and rehabilitation.

Phillips will be off the Vikings suspension in time to join Phase Two of the program when on-field work and group instruction is allowed.  

Phillips, who joined the Vikings in 2022, was stopped the night of Dec. 8 and reportedly tested for a blood alcohol level of .10. The legal limit in Minnesota is .08.

The coach was apologetic for his arrest in front of reporters in December.

"Aside from the standards that I have for myself, I do understand that as a coach in this league, there are certain standards from the NFL and from the Minnesota Vikings," he said in a press conference. "I didn’t live up to those standards. The last thing I would ever want to do is detract from the attention being on the great things that these guys do on the field.

"That was unfortunate from me, I do believe in being accountable and learning from your mistakes, accepting whatever discipline may come down the road, and growing from it and going forward with a positive attitude."