Vikings Really, Really Need One Particular Player This Weekend
The Minnesota Vikings’ week began Monday with no Carson Wentz or Jonathan Greenard in sight at the team’s walkthrough in Eagan. Wentz was later revealed to be lost for the season with a torn labrum, while the outlook for Greenard remains mysterious. And don’t kid yourself: Minnesota needs Greenard this weekend at the Detroit Lions.
The Detroit Lions await the Minnesota Vikings at their building on Sunday, and the purple team must have one prominent defender in the lineup.
Greenard came up hobbled during last week’s awful loss at the Los Angeles Chargers, and the rest of the week will entail fans holding their breath that Greenard will play in Week 9. The team desperately needs him.
Vikings OLB Jonathan Greenard Isn’t Really an Optional Asset
The defense would be grim without Greenard.
No Greenard in Eagan on Monday
Where’s Greenard? Folks asked that question Monday when he didn’t participate per usual.
SI.com‘s Will Ragatz wrote, “The other notable players who weren’t on the practice field on Monday were outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard and tight end Josh Oliver. Greenard picked up an ankle injury against the Chargers, but he was able to walk off the field under his own power and seemingly could’ve returned to the game if the score had been closer.”
“The Vikings very much need him to be available to have a chance to slow down the Lions’ high-powered offense. Oliver suffered a foot/ankle injury in the first quarter of that game and did not return.”
And just like that, Greenard’s Week 9 availability became a storyline.
Andrew Van Ginkel Casually Not Available Either
At the same time, Greenard’s Pro Bowl teammate, Andrew Van Ginkel, is battling a neck injury, with an unknown return date. He could be back this Sunday — he could be back in December. Nobody knows.
So when Greenard’s availability is up in the air, coupled with Van Ginkel’s ever-evolving mystery status, Minnesota would be facing the prospect of taking on the best team in the NFC without its starting outside linebackers.
Sounds like a recipe for utter disaster.
Dallas Turner and Bo Richter?
In terms of personnel, the Vikings would turn to youngsters if Greenard and Van Ginkel don’t play.
Dallas Turner has taken the next step in his development at age 22, despite some fans being mad that he isn’t playing at a Pro Bowl level. Many want Turner to play like Jared Verse in Los Angeles, a player over two years older than Turner but from the same draft class and round. Turner’s just not there yet and still needs refinement.
Turner would obviously start without Greenard and Van Ginkel on the field, along with turning to lesser-known EDGEs like Bo Richter and Tyler Batty. Both men are undrafted commodities with decent upsides — but not the type of defenders who can be trusted to stop Jahmyr Gibbs or Jared Goff for three hours.
The Vikings also have fellow undrafted EDGE talents Chaz Chambliss and Gabriel Murphy in their roster orbit.
Tracking Greenard’s Status Throughout the Week
This all sets up an injury report watch for Greenard.
By Wednesday, the man could practice in full or in a limited capacity, and the fears will be moot. That happens. It’s just a little strange that Greenard didn’t do much of anything on Monday. After all, when the same status was revealed about Carson Wentz on Monday, he hit injured reserve a couple of hours later.
Fans should cross their fingers for FULL or LIMITED at practice for Greenard. Those are the preferred statuses. He’s the best pass rusher by leaps and bounds this season, especially with Van Ginkel missing most of the year to date. Minnesota can’t afford to lose him. Not this week.
Cole Smith on Greenard, the Purple Defense
After the Week 8 loss, our Cole Smith called Greenard a ‘winner’ from the game, and explained, “Like everyone on the team, Jonathan Greenard has had a tough season in 2025. He entered Thursday’s game with only one sack, narrowly missing on several other occasions.
“But he brought Herbert down, getting his first sack since Week 2. Greenard had five stops as well, helping earn him a 77.7 PFF grade, second-highest among Vikings defenders. His performance and effort need to be more appreciated in a season where it’d be easy for him to shut down mentally.”
Smith wasn’t so complimentary of the defensive secondary: “This could be any number of individuals, so we’re going to lump them all together here. Outside of the Metellus interception (which was too little, too late) and an overturned pick-six by Isaiah Rodgers on the Chargers’ opening drive, the Vikings couldn’t stop the Chargers’ passing game.”
“Jeff Okudah got torched on a Ladd McConkey touchdown and registered a team-low 30.2 PFF grade. Harrison Smith looks like he is finished. Theo Jackson’s name hasn’t been mentioned much this year. Even Metellus received a 31.6 PFF grade, second-lowest on the team. It feels like there was a position that needed to be addressed before the trade deadline, and it’s the secondary.”
The Vikings are expected to lose by nine or ten points at Detroit this Sunday.
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