Vikings Final Injury Report Is Sweet and Sour
The Minnesota Vikings hit Game No. 3 of 2023 on Sunday, hoping to get off the schneid with a win over the winless Los Angeles Chargers. Minnesota is favored by a point to defeat Los Angeles.
Vikings Final Injury Report Is Sweet and Sour
The Vikings have toppled the Chargers thrice consecutively, and now both teams are desperate for a win. Just four teams since 1990 have climbed out of an 0-3 hole to later play postseason football.
Overall, the Vikings relative health has dipped in recent weeks after a promisingly clean injury report to start the season. Wide receiver Jalen Nailor was added to injured reserve this week and will miss at least the next four games.
These are the Vikings and Chargers injured players one day before Week 3.
Vikings Injury Report
Out – Marcus Davenport (OLB, ankle)
Questionable – Garrett Bradbury (C, back)
The lack of Christian Darrisaw on the report is comforting, as Vikings fans were uncertain all week if the young lineman would play. Avoiding the final injury report indicates Darrisaw is a go.
Minnesota will again turn to reservist center Austin Schlottmann if Bradbury is unavailable.
Chargers Injury Report
Out – Austin Ekeler (RB, ankle)
Out – Eric Kendricks (LB, hamstring)
Questionable – Joey Bosa (OLB, hamstring)
Questionable – Daiyan Henley (LB, hamstring)
Questionable – Chris Rumph (LB, hamstring)
Questionable – Christopher Hinton (DL, back)
Kendricks will miss his reunion or redemption game, leaving the Vikings in March after Minnesota shed cap space. Ekeler’s absence is mighty, and the Chargers will turn to Josh Kelley for RB duties. Bosa was hobbled last week, too, but played a handful of meaningful snaps in Los Angeles’ loss to the Tennessee Titans.
The Vikings have righted the ship from an 0-2 start once in team history to reach the playoffs, the 2008 campaign or Adrian Peterson’s second season. Minnesota, however, has never reached the playoffs following an 0-3 start.
Teams led by Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins are 6-5 (.545) against AFC West teams during his 12-season career, and Cousins has accounted for 19 touchdown passes to 5 interceptions in those 11 games. Minnesota downed the Chargers two years ago while attempting to turn its season around.
The Chargers have never played a regular season game at U.S. Bank Stadium, and after Sunday, only the Kansas City Chiefs are left on the list of teams yet to play at the Vikings house.
These are the other two injury sections of the Vikings roster as of September 23rd:
Injured Reserve
- William Kwenkeu (LB)
- James Lynch (DT)
- Jalen Nailor (WR)
- Kene Nwangwu (RB)
Non-Football Injury List
- Malik Knowles (WR)
- Chris Reed (OG)
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.
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