Two Players Officially Out For the Vikings Season Opener

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Sep 10, 2021
Christian Darrisaw
ELIZABETH FLORES, STAR TRIBUNE

After being a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice, Anthony Barr sat out Thursday, bringing his status for this weekend back into question. When asked by reporters, head coach Mike Zimmer said that Barr was feeling sore from Wednesday’s work. Understandable, considering it was the first time he’s practiced in a month. However, he is once again a no-go on Friday and has officially been ruled out for Sunday’s game against Cincinnati.

It will be Barr’s 15th missed game since the start of the 2020 season while providing a big test for Minnesota’s young depth. Nick Vigil will get the nod at WLB, so we are likely to see one of two second-year players at SLB, either Blake Lynch or Troy Dye.

In more injury news, the Vikings will officially be without rookie left tackle, Christian Darrisaw. This comes at little surprise as the first-round pick has been battling a lingering groin injury all through training camp. Darrisaw also returned to practice this week, but his work has come exclusively in individual workouts.

This means Rashod Hill will in fact get a start at LT. The left side of the offensive line should be tested as Hill and Ezra Cleveland will be tasked with protecting Kirk Cousins’ blindside from Cincinnati’s pass rushers.

Finally, an interesting non-injury tidbit is the Vikings promoting a new backup QB. Sean Mannion will move up from the practice squad to backup Cousins this week rather than Kellen Mond.

Mannion of course backed up Cousins throughout the 2020 season, and with Mond’s somewhat lackluster preseason, Minnesota seems to be opting for veterans this week. Mannion can only be promoted one more time this season, excluding any situation with Covid complications.