Another Vikings Star Out vs. DET

Vikings O-Lineman Out for Remainder of Regular Season
Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports

For the Minnesota Vikings injury report, the hits keep coming.

On Saturday, the franchise revealed All-Pro linebacker Eric Kendricks is out Sunday at Detroit.

In a bittersweet bustle of moves, current RB2 and rookie special teams sensation Kene Nwangwu is now questionable with an illness. Nwangwu was not anywhere near Friday’s injury report.

Thankfully, nose tackle Michael Pierce is set to return after a long absence due to an elbow injury. Since signing with the Vikings in the spring of 2020, Pierce has missed 85% of all games.

The Kendricks news is rather brutal. He’s the cardiovascular system of the Vikings defense, making plays most men cannot make.

On the depth chart behind Kendricks? Troy Dye — a second-year defender drafted from the University of Oregon in 2020. Dye has played zero defensive snaps in 2021, instead featured on the Vikings special teams. He’s played 65% of all special teams snaps through 12 weeks. In 2020, though, Dye did participate in 28% of all defensive snaps.

Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

The Vikings will also be without these players:

RB1 – Dalvin Cook
TE1 – Irv Smith Jr.
LT1 – Christian Darrisaw
DE1 – Danielle Hunter
DE2 – Everson Griffen
CB1 – Patrick Peterson

The Vikings are favored by 7.5 points to defeat the Lions in Week 13, regardless of Kendricks’ availability.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).

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