Vikings WR Room Faces a Big Challenge in Week 10
The Minnesota Vikings will face off with the New Orleans Saints in just a couple hours as part of the Week 10 NFL slate.
Heading into the matchup, both teams sit at 5-4 as they continue to jostle for position in the NFC playoff picture.
This is a very important matchup, but it is one where the Vikings WR room will be even further shorthanded. Not only will Justin Jefferson not make his return to the field this weekend, but K.J. Osborn has also been ruled out with a concussion.
Vikings WR Room Faces a Big Challenge in Week 10
Kevin Seifert of ESPN reported the news on Sunday morning, tweeting, “The Vikings have in fact ruled K.J. Osborn out of this game. He won’t attend today’s game. He got close, but the team decided to give him more time after monitoring his response this weekend to being a full participant in Friday’s practice.”
Osborn left last weekend’s game against the Atlanta Falcons in the first half after sustaining a scary hit to the head which left him needing a cart to get off the field. Luckily, he seemed to be okay following the hit and gave a thumbs up to the crowd as he left the game.
Regardless, Minnesota will now need even more production from their depth pieces at the receiver position. Osborn has been terrific over the past few weeks without Jefferson in the lineup, including a 99-yard performance against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8.
Luckily, the Vikings have gotten plenty of production out of other players during their winning streak as well. Jordan Addison has emerged as a star at the position, catching four TDs in the past four games. This included a 123-yard and 2-TD game against the San Francisco 49ers, providing a much-needed boost for the Vikings as they dominated their NFC counterparts on Monday Night Football.
Brandon Powell has been another steady producer for Minnesota. Over the past five games, Powell has been targeted 21 times while hauling in 14 passes for 152 yards and his game-winning TD catch against the Falcons last weekend.
The good news for the Vikings comes in the fact that Josh Dobbs delivered Minnesota’s comeback win last weekend without the help of either Jefferson or Osborn. En route to over 200 total yards and 3 TDs during the Vikings latest win, Dobbs utilized many different receiving targets and improvised with his legs to make plays throughout the second half.
T.J. Hockenson will also be available for the game despite his rib injury, so that will provide a bit of stability for Dobbs as a reliable option. Regardless, Minnesota will need more Dobbs magic in order to get another win this weekend.
NOTE: This article originally appeared on our sister-site, PurplePTSD.com.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.
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