2 New Names Enter Vikings Injury Orbit
The Minnesota Vikings shockingly orchestrated a comeback in J.J. McCarthy’s inaugural start on Monday night, but it came at a heavy cost.
The Vikings’ Week 2 injury report is starting to take shape, and two names have emerged that weren’t quite expected, with the game four days away.
Fans already knew about existing injuries to Blake Cashman, Christian Darrisaw, Jeff Okudah, and Harrison Smith, but a couple more entered the chat on Wednesday.
Injuries Are Sadly a Story for the Vikings after Week 1
Andrew Van Ginkel headlines the new injuries.
OLB Andrew Van Ginkel in Concussion Protocol
Van Ginkel missed all of the preseason and some of practice in August, but when the rubber hit the road at practice before Week 1, he was all systems go.
Yet after Monday Night Football, the veteran outside linebacker is evidently in the concussion protocol.
The Vikings’ public relations team tweeted Wednesday:
Kevin O’Connell provides injury updates:
— Blake Cashman and Ty Chandler will miss time
— Jeff Okudah and Andrew Van Ginkel are in concussion protocol
— Harrison Smith and Christian Darrisaw continue to ramp up
— Zavier Scott and Elijah Williams will return to practice this week
Folks will now intently monitor Van Ginkel’s status. Dallas Turner would be the next man up if Van Ginkel is unavailable Sunday night.
RB Ty Chandler to Miss Games
Chandler’s upcoming absence is new.
The man has been attached to Minnesota’s roster for three seasons and change, and he now appears to be heading to injured reserve, though an official designation should arrive soon.
Chandler serves as the Vikings’ RB3 and one of the kick returners, next to the upstart rookie Myles Price, so O’Connell will need an alternative option for kicks, possibly rookie Tai Felton.
As for the RB3 job, the aforementioned Scott is the most logical example. Minnesota, too, could sign a free agent like Khalil Herbert, who the Indianapolis Colts recently released.
The Other Injuries
Cashman is almost certain to land on injured reserve after his hamstring injury. Those are never in-and-out recoveries. He should reasonably be expected back in Week 7 after the club’s bye. Darrisaw could be ready to go as early as Week 2, possibly held out of Week 1 because of Soldier Field’s nasty terrain.
Okudah was concussed on the game’s final play, a sad development as the play was pretty pointless. And Williams is a reserve player.
Fullback C.J.. Ham remains on injured reserve for at least three more games.
Week 2 Just 4 Days Away
On Van Ginkel, Okudah, Smith, and Darrisaw, a verdict is just four days away.
After besting the Bears and running the 2025 record to 1-0, Minnesota will take on the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, the franchise’s second primetime game in as many weeks.
The game will notably feature a quarterback rematch of the 2023 College Football Championship between McCarthy and Michael Penix Jr. McCarthy and the Michigan Wolverines were victorious in January 2024, and in fact, that game served as a springboard event for Minnesota to draft McCarthy three months later.
The two meet again at U.S. Bank Stadium.
More Context on Vikings Injuries
Our Ted Schwerzler mentioned the mounting injuries Wednesday: “Unfortunately, it was the new names that hit Minnesota’s injury report on Wednesday. Neither Blake Cashman or Ty Chandler will play this week. Jeff Okudah and Andrew Van Ginkel are both in concussion protocol.”
“We knew that Cashman was injured during the game. He was in pursuit of Caleb Williams and appeared to come up lame. He then went to the medical tent and remained out of action the rest of the way. It sounds like the injury is a substantial one, and that’s tough for a guy who has missed so much time over his career.”
The injury report on Thursday and Friday will now command the utmost attention.
“Jeff Okudah was carted to the locker room after the game. Minnesota’s non-existent cornerback depth would drop to just three players if he is unable to go. Andrew Van Ginkel played 61-of-67 defensive snaps on Monday night and was the fifth-highest graded defender on the Minnesota Vikings’ roster,” Schwerzler added.
“He nearly had a pick-six on a tipped pass and was flying everywhere. Where or when he sustained a possible concussion is uncertain. Minnesota has a short week having played Monday night, and they’ll need to hope that some of these players return to practice as the week goes on.”
The Vikings are favored to defeat the Falcons by three or four points on Sunday Night Football.
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