Vikings Now Have 10 Humans on IR
Dustin Baker
|
The hits keep on comin’,
The Minnesota Vikings have been ripped every which way due to injury, with the latest chapter announced Monday afternoon. Defensive lineman Dean Lowry tore a pectoral muscle and will visit IR.
Vikings Now Have 10 Humans on IR
Lowry had played 237 defensive snaps to date in 2023, or 32.5%, and Minnesota will now lean on other linemen like Khyiris Tonga, Jaquelin Roy, T.J. Smith, or Sheldon Day at his position.
In a bit of good news for the roster’s depth, offensive guard Chris Reed returned from IR the moment Lowry joined the list. So, at least for the offensive trenches, the Vikings became a bit deeper on Monday.
Still, with Lowry’s addition to injured reserve and Reed’s return, Minnesota has 10 men on the shelf:
- Cam Akers (RB)
- Kirk Cousins (QB)
- Marcus Davenport (OLB)
- Justin Jefferson (WR)*
- Jordan Hicks (ILB)
- Malik Knowles (WR)
- William Kwenkeu (ILB)
- Dean Lowry (DL)
- James Lynch (DL)
- Oli Udoh (OT)
*Designated for return
Akers tore his Achilles in Week 9 at the Atlanta Falcons, and the team’s RB2 won’t return this season. He joined the club in September via trade. Cousins was lost for the season with the same injury a week prior, encountering the first major injury of his career. Current quarterback Josh Dobbs was acquired after the Cousins injury development.
Davenport suffered a high ankle sprain at the Chicago Bears in Week 6 and doesn’t appear ready to return until sometime in December. Thankfully for the Vikings’ sake, EDGE rusher D.J. Wonnum has performed wonderfully after Davenport’s diagnosis.
Jefferson hurt his hamstring in Week 5 versus the Kansas City Chiefs and has missed six games. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year is eligible to return from IR as early as now, but the Vikings brass is acting cautiously with the 24-year-old. Head coach Kevin O’Connell seemed to hint Monday that Jefferson should be back on December 10th at the Las Vegas Raiders, although he didn’t totally rule Jefferson out for Monday Night Football in a week against the Bears.
Hicks has compartment syndrome, making his return on Christmas Eve versus the Detroit Lions the best-case scenario. Beloved Vikings defender Anthony Barr was signed last week to fill the Hicks role.
Knowles, Kwenkeu, Lynch, and Udoh are all depth commodities who likely won’t return in 2023.
Until Sunday night, the Vikings had overcome injuries quite swimmingly, especially after Jefferson was injured. In fact, Minnesota is 5-1 (.833) since Jefferson was plopped on injured reserve.
The Vikings will hope to reembrace winning ways next week at home versus the Bears, with or without Jefferson, and are early three-point favorites to win.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.