Stefon Diggs Out as Vikings Host Texans
Austin Belisle
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Stefon Diggs “has a groin,” and that groin finally held him out of a game. Earlier this morning, the Minnesota Vikings announced that Diggs, who’s missed practice all week, will be inactive against the Houston Texans.
It’s the first game Diggs has missed since sitting the first three games of his career in 2015. In his place, Adam Thielen will start in two-receiver sets, and Jarius Wright will likely see more field today than he’s seen all season.
The rest of the the team’s inactives include:
- WR Stefon Diggs
- RB Ronnie Hillman
- LB Kentrell Brothers
- T Andre Smith
- DT Sharrif Floyd
- TE Rhett Ellison
- TE David Morgan
Notable is the loss of Rhett Ellison, a key factor in Minnesota’s two and three-tight end sets. With Ellison sidelined, Sam Bradford and the Vikings offense could look to more 11/21-personnel sets out of the shotgun. It’s a look the team showed heavily in Week 4, when Jerick McKinnon rushed for nearly 100 yards.
On the offensive line, right tackle Andre Smith is sitting with an elbow injury. There were reports earlier in the week that Smith’s injury could be season-ending, but the veteran emphatically denied such rumors. Jeremiah Sirles is starting in Smith’s place, marking just the second start of his career.
Even with the injuries, the Vikings are seven-point favorites at home against the Texans. Houston has one of the league’s least productive offenses, while the Vikings lead the league with a +10 turnover margin. Against Brock Osweiller, who’s thrown six interceptions this season, Minnesota should see plenty of opportunities to improve that number.
The Texans’ inactives include:
- QB Brandon Weeden
- WR Keith Mumphery
- CB Kareem Jackson
- RB Johnathan Grimes
- G Oday Aboushi
- TE Stephen Anderson
- DE Brandon Dunn
Stay tuned for more updates from the Vikings Territory following today’s matchup with the Houston Texans.