Adam Schefter explains how Vikings coach Mike Zimmer will be able to coach from the sideline against the Jaguars nine days after having eye surgery. (0:50)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said his right eye, which has undergone four operations since the start of November, will require another operation after the end of the team's season.

But it won't require Zimmer to miss another game, and even though he could have to take extra steps to coach the rest of the season following the surgeries on his detached retina, he said he won't step away from his team.

"I'm not missing any more games the rest of my life," he said.

Zimmer coached with a patch over his right eye during practice this week -- a step that prompted plenty of pirate-themed jokes from his players -- and he had to wear two different sets of glasses during Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars: sunglasses that blocked out the vision in his right eye, and reading glasses for when he needed to look at his call sheet on the sidelines.

In addition to an eye patch, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer had to wear two different sets of glasses during Sunday's game against Jacksonville. AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

As Zimmer went to shake Jaguars coach Gus Bradley's hand after Minnesota's 25-16 victory, he had to have Vikings security director Kim Klawiter guide him to midfield.

"When I did take the patch off, Kim was walking me across the field, and I said, 'I can't see where he's at,'" Zimmer said. "He said, 'Don't worry -- I got you.'"

Zimmer missed the first game of his 23-year NFL coaching career on Dec. 1 after emergency eye surgery the previous day, and he watched from home as the Vikings lost 17-15 to the Dallas Cowboys. He had another operation the day after the game, and though he returned to work this past Monday, he had to ease back into some portions of his job.

Zimmer said he expects he will have to wear an eyepatch on the sidelines the rest of the season, though he admitted his players would likely enjoy that.

"There was a lot of, 'Aye aye, Captain' [this week]," he said.

Zimmer's return came as the Vikings won for just the second time in eight games, improving to 7-6 on the season and keeping their playoff hopes alive before next Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts.

"When we got back in the building, it was just great to have him around," quarterback Sam Bradford said. "I think everyone in our locker room knows how much he cares about us, how much he cares about this team, what it means to him to lead us on Sundays. Him being back in the building, it just kind of gave us a boost. When we see our leader like that, probably risking his health for us, it does give us a little bit of motivation to go out there and play extra hard for him."

Did Bradford joke with the coach?

"No," he said. "He's kind of scary with that patch on."