Image courtesy of Vikings.com
Some positive injury news stemmed from TCO Performance Center in Eagan on Wednesday. Wide receiver Adam Thielen returned to practice after sitting out all of last week due to his hamstring injury. He was listed as a limited participant in the practice session.
There was talk last weekend that Thielen would be able to return as early as this week, and according to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Thielen is expected to play this Sunday in Los Angeles barring any setbacks in practice. He’s missed the last four games with the injury, and he’s able to play, it would be his first full game since Week 6.
Although he hasn’t played in a game since November 3rd, Thielen is still tied for the team lead in touchdown receptions (6). The Vikings have three games left in the regular season, starting with the Chargers this weekend.
Also limited in practice were cornerbacks Mike Hughes (hip) and Xavier Rhodes (ankle), as well as nose tackle Linval Joseph (knee). Running back Alexander Mattison (ankle) was the only non-participant, but he sounded confident that he will play on Sunday.
Due to Mattison’s absence, Tony Brooks-James was signed to the practice squad as the team was short a running back. Brooks-James (5-9, 190) played college football at Oregon and signed with Atlanta as an undrafted free agent this spring. He played in three games with Pittsburgh earlier in the season, collecting 7 yards on 8 carries and returning two kicks for 32 yards.
The Draft Network called Brooks-James, 25, a “speed demon who’s a homerun threat on every touch.” He’s known as being a capable kick returner and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds at Oregon’s pro day. The signing is the corresponding roster move to Tuesday’s release of fullback Johnny Stanton from the practice squad.