Week 8 Injury Report: Saints Are Much Healthier Than Vikings

  |  
Oct 27, 2018
Image courtesy of Vikings.com

Major disparity stemmed from the injury reports that were released by the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints on Friday. Let’s not beat around the bush… It is what it is… The Saints are currently a much healthier team than the Vikings.

On one hand, the Vikings listed 11 players on their report. At least five starters will be out for the second week in a row. That number could rise if two players, listed as questionable, are unable to participate.

On the other hand, the Saints’ injury report consisted of two players — and one is playing! Let’s take a quick look the Week 8 injury reports.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

OUT

  • LB Anthony Barr (hamstring)
  • RB Dalvin Cook (hamstring)
  • LG Tom Compton (knee)
  • S Andrew Sendejo (groin)

DOUBTFUL

  • LT Riley Reiff (foot)

Last week the Vikings held out five starters including Dalvin Cook, Riley Reiff, Andrew Sendejo, Everson Griffen and Linval Joseph. This week it’ll be Cook, Sendejo, Barr and Compton. Reiff, who’s listed as Doubtful, will likely be held out as well.

Linebacker Anthony Barr, who was a non-participant in practice all week, will not play after suffering a hamstring injury last week against the Jets. Second-year linebacker Eric Wilson will likely replace Barr.

According to sources, Dalvin Cook is likely out until after the Week 10 bye. That means Latavius Murray will make his fourth consecutive start on Sunday. Murray has rushed for 266 yards the last three games, an average of 89 yards per game. He has three touchdowns in that span. He will take the lion’s share of snaps with Mike Boone and Roc Thomas continuing to spell Murray.

Tom Compton will miss his first game of the season after starting the first seven contests at left guard. Compton was diagnosed with a sprained MCL earlier in the week. It’s unclear how long the injury will keep him out. With Compton out the Vikings will need to do some shuffling to their front five.

Reiff and Sendejo will each miss their third straight game. Reiff was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday but did not participate on Friday. He appears close to a return from a foot injury which has kept him out since Week 5. Sendejo, on the other hand, hasn’t practiced since the first week of October due to a groin injury.

QUESTIONABLE

  • DT Linval Joseph (ankle/knee)
  • CB Xavier Rhodes (foot)

Joseph did not play last week after being listed as questionable. He received the same designation this week. His situation will be worth monitoring leading up to the game, but based on the Vikings roster moves made earlier today, it appears Joseph could be good to go.

HEALTHY

  • Everson Griffen (not injury related)
  • Kentrell Brothers (groin)
  • Anthony Harris (knee)
  • Brandon Zylstra (neck)

Griffen made his return to the team this week. His presence alone could provide his teammates with an extra boost of energy. All of these players were listed on the injury report but practiced in full this week. Each is expected to play in the rematch of the Minneapolis Miracle.

SUBS

Here are the projected replacements for the Vikings injured starters:

  • Rashod Hill will start for Riley Reiff
  • Eric Wilson will start for Anthony Barr
  • Danny Isidora will start for Tom Compton
  • Latavius Murray will start for Dalvin Cook
  • George Iloka will start for Andrew Sendjo

Should the players listed as questionable be ruled out:

  • Holton Hill would sub for Xavier Rhodes
  • Jaleel Johnson would replace Linval Joseph

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

OUT

  • DL Mitchell Loewen (neck)

Loewen, a third-string defensive end, is the only player that’s currently injured for New Orleans. The other player listed on the Saints injury report is offensive tackle Jermon Bushrod (not injury-related). He will play after practicing in full on Friday. As things stand now, the Saints clearly have the upper hand when it comes to injuries. The Vikings, who have one of the deepest rosters in the NFL, will have that depth tested fully on Sunday night.

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