Vikings: Griffen left house, 'getting the care he needs'

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen "is getting the care he needs" after leaving his home following an incident Wednesday, the team announced.

"Our focus remains on Everson's health and safety and providing the proper resources for him and his family," the club said in a statement.

Police and mental health professionals were at Griffen's home Wednesday after he published several social media posts asserting that someone was trying to kill him. Police said the 33-year-old initially refused to leave his house, according to a statement obtained by Lou Raguse of KARE 11.

A since-deleted video posted on Griffen's Instagram account showed him in his house holding a gun, saying people were trying to kill him and that he'd purchased the gun and bullets legally, according to Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune.

Griffen also shared screenshots of text messages to his agent, Brian Murphy, asking for help and telling Murphy to call 911.

Police said Griffen called 911 around 3 a.m. and told a dispatcher that he'd fired a weapon but no one was injured, according to Raguse.

Police officers weren't able to locate an intruder after entering Griffen's home.

In 2018, Griffen received mental health treatment for one month and lived in a sober house for the final three months of that NFL season, according to Goessling.

The Vikings signed Griffen this year after he spent 2020 on the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions. The four-time Pro Bowler, who's appeared in nine games in 2021, played his first 10 NFL seasons in Minnesota.