NFL’s Linval Joseph an ‘innocent bystander’ in shooting

Eden Prairie: Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Linval Joseph said on Sunday he was an “innocent bystander” when he was struck in the calf by a stray bullet in a shooting at a bar.

Joseph was shot at a Minneapolis club after the Vikings’ 10-6 NFL pre-season win over the Oakland Raiders on Friday night.

“I appreciate everyone’s thoughts and concerns over the past 24 hours,” Joseph said in a statement released by the team. “I am extremely thankful that this was a minor injury for me. As the team has communicated, this was an unfortunate situation where I, along with several others, was an innocent bystander to a senseless act.

“My thoughts are with all of the victims at this time. I am looking forward to getting back onto the field with my teammates in the near future,” the 25-year-old said.

The Star-Tribune newspaper reported that several people were wounded, two seriously, by an unknown gunman who fired several shots in the club.

Joseph inked a five-year, $31.5 million (Dh115.7 million) contract with the Vikings in March after four seasons with the New York Giants, where he was a member of their Super Bowl winning team in 2011.