5 Vikings Miss Practice on Wednesday
Facing a 4.5-point underdog status against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 10, the Minnesota Vikings will need all the help they can get on Sunday. The problem? Five players missed practice to start the week on Wednesday.
The Vikings take on the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday, and out of the gate this week, five players sat out practice in Eagan.
Their statuses can certainly improve in the next two days, but here’s a look at the DNPs to get Ravens week cracking.
5 DNPs for Vikings on Wednesday
Let’s hope the DNPs vanish by the weekend.
Theo Jackson | S
Jackson sustained a concussion in the win over the Detroit Lions, an injury that is all too common for the 2025 Vikings. The safety was seen wearing street clothes in Eagan on Wednesday, an indicator that he isn’t close to playing and will likely miss Sunday’s tryst with the Ravens.
Without Jackson, Minnesota would presumably lean on third-year safety Jay Ward, who turned some heads in the season’s first two games when Harrison Smith didn’t play.
The average turnaround for an NFL player to rejoin the lineup after a concussion is nine days. Jackson probably won’t play this weekend.
Aaron Jones | RB
No stranger to injuries this season and during his career, Jones also logged a DNP on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old tailback injured his AC joint in Detroit, and his status will be closely monitored throughout the week’s remainder.
NFL Network‘s Tom Pelissero initially tweeted after the injury on Sunday night, “Vikings RB Aaron Jones, who was dominating early in Detroit before leaving the game, suffered an AC joint sprain. Belief is it’s minor and he believes he’ll be able to play next week.”
The injury report listed Jones with a shoulder and toe ailment.
Pro Football Network‘s Jason Katz on Jones from a fantasy football angle: “Jones did not practice Wednesday, which represents the first concerning data point of the week. While the initial outlook following Sunday’s game was relatively positive, missing Wednesday’s practice after dealing with two separate injuries raises questions about his readiness.”
“Age becomes a significant factor at over 30 years old. When players reach this stage of their careers, their bodies will eventually betray them regardless of skill level. The accumulation of years takes its toll. Players like Julio Jones and Michael Thomas were still talented when they were essentially finished as NFL players.”
Jones looked great in Week 9, chipping off 98 yards from scrimmage before the AC joint injury.
“Their bodies could no longer handle the rigors of professional football even before their skills declined. The explosiveness on the field hasn’t visibly diminished. Jones still looks dynamic when given opportunities, demonstrating burst and cutting ability,” Katz added.
“But he’s been around a long time, and the mounting injuries raise questions about whether he can physically hold up anymore. The pattern of missing time, returning briefly, then getting hurt again suggests his body may be reaching its breaking point.”
Jeff Okudah | CB
Okudah, another concussion victim, was injured in the Week 8 loss at the Los Angeles Chargers, and his recovery may take longer than most concussions because he has sustained two this season. His DNP hints at another missed game, but fans aren’t sweating it much because opposing quarterbacks have routinely picked on Okudah in 2025.
Minnesota promoted Fabian Moreau from the practice squad last weekend for Okudah’s job, completely ignoring the backup CB3, Dwight McGlothern.
The Vikings will also host the league’s top free-agent cornerback, Asante Samuel Jr., on Friday for a possible contract.
Josh Oliver | TE
Another injury casualty from the lousy loss at the Chargers, Oliver is dealing with a foot sprain, and with fans learning their lesson about nagging sprains due to J.J. McCarthy’s status from Week 3 to Week 9, this one could linger.
No, Oliver hasn’t been softly benched; he’s legitimately recovering from a sprain, just like McCarthy in September and October.
If Oliver can’t go against the Ravens, look for usage of Ben Yurosek and newcomer Ben Sims after TE1 T.J. Hockenson on the depth chart. The other option is veteran tight end Nick Vannett, who played well in Week 9 while filling in for Oliver.
Harrison Smith | S
Finally, the least damning: Smith is old. Let’s just get that out there.
He’ll turn 37 in February, and when one gets to this stage of his career, he gets Wednesdays off, if needed. Smith enjoyed a rest day.
The longtime Viking should be ready for Vikings-Ravens in three days.
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