Vikings, Lions Release Final Injury Reports
The Minnesota Vikings have a crucial matchup scheduled on Sunday against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. It is not just one out of 17 games.
The winner will stay at the top of the NFC North, while the loser will have a record of 1-2 and fall behind in tiebreakers with the other team. The victorious team will climb in the eyes of the media and will be a playoff contender. Kevin O’Connell will miss a key piece when his team tries to bounce back after a horrible outing against the Eagles on Monday.
Minnesota Vikings
Pro Bowl safety Harrison Smith won’t play on Sunday. He suffered a concussion on Monday during the game in Philadelphia and didn’t practice all week. Since the Vikings drafted the safety in 2012, he missed 15 games. The Vikings’ record is 6-9-1 in those games.
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Smith missed two contests in 2021 because he tested positive for COVID-19. The Vikings first lost a road game against the Ravens. The Hitman tested positive just before the game, and Camryn Bynum, the rookie, took his spot. Bynum had a phenomenal game, but the Vikings blew a third-quarter 24-10 lead. In the following week, Smith didn’t play either, and once again, Bynum filled in. The Vikings had a convincing win against the Los Angeles Chargers this time.
Head coach O’Connell didn’t commit to a replacement. Because Bynum is starting now, the Vikings need to find a different backup. Of course, they drafted one in the first round. Lewis Cine played just one snap in the second game of the year after missing the first with a minor knee injury. He’s by far the most talented player in the room when Smith isn’t there.
Josh Metellus is the second option. He’s a 2020 sixth-rounder with 80 defensive snaps of experience. The Vikings could opt to go with him because he may better understand the playbook, but it would be disappointing if the first-rounder won’t start.
Cine may start, but second-rounder Andrew Booth won’t be available. The cornerback suffered a hamstring injury in Week 1 against the Packers and will miss his second consecutive game. He didn’t win the cornerback job and wasn’t even the top backup. His absence won’t make a big difference short-term but could hurt his long-term development. He needs practice reps and game action to get better.
Eric Kendricks is the final player on the injury report. He’s questionable with a toe injury and was a late addition to the report, as he was limited on Friday. The Vikings expect to have him available on Sunday.
Detroit Lions
Starting left guard Jonah Jackson will miss the game because of a finger injury. Right guard Halapoulivaatai Vaitai is already on injured reserve. However, the Lions’ interior line could get one reinforcement. Center Frank Ragnow is questionable after missing the game in Week 1. Dan Skipper and Evan Brown are the two backups.
Another big name on the list is Aidan Hutchinson. The second overall pick had three sacks last week against Carson Wentz but is in danger of missing the divisional showdown against the Vikings. A thing injury led to two missed practices on Wednesday and Thursday and a limited practice on Friday. He will likely be the main threat of the Lions’ pass rush for years to come.
Star running back D’Andre Swift was upgraded to a limited practice on Thursday and Friday. He’s also listed as questionable. Through the season’s first two weeks, Swift leads the NFL in yards per carry. His 10 yards per carry are an insane number, and the Vikings have a lot of work to do to get him under control. Both Hutchinson and Swift are expected to play, but if they are not at 100%, the Vikings will gain a significant advantage.
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Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and Classic rock is his music genre of choice. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt
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