The Vikings’ Injury Report for Biggest Regular Season Game in Team History

  |  
Jan 4, 2025
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports.

The Minnesota Vikings have won nine straight, bouncing back wondrously after losing two games following their Week 6 bye.

The Vikings’ Injury Report for Biggest Regular Season Game in Team History

This week’s injury report is out, and the document looks pretty fantastic, all things considered.

Next up is the Detroit Lions on Sunday night, and it’s for all the regular season marbles. Minnesota can clinch homefield advantage throughout the postseason with a win. Otherwise, it will drop to the No. 5 seed.

Steve Roberts-Imagn Images.

Minnesota’s injury report, on the whole, is encouraging.

These are each team’s injured players one day before Week 18.

Detroit offensive lineman Christian Mahogany (73) speaks to media members during rookie minicamp at Detroit Lions headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park on Friday, May 10, 2024. © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK.

Vikings Injury Report

  • Patrick Jones II — OUT (OLB, Knee)
  • Kamu Grugier-Hill — QUESTIONABLE (LB, Illness)
  • Fabian Moreau — QUESTIONABLE (CB, Hip)

Aaron Jones (RB), C.J. Ham (FB), Harrison Smith (S), Josh Oliver (TE), and Ed Ingram (RG) were sprinkled a bit on the injury report this week but carry no injury designation to Week 18.

Long-term Injuries

  • Mekhi Blackmon, CB (Knee, Out for season)
  • Christian Darrisaw, LT (Knee, Out for season)
  • Jeremy Flax, OL (Out for season)
  • J.J. McCarthy, QB (Knee, Out for season)
  • Taki Taimani, DT (Ankle)
  • Najee Thompson, CB (Knee, Out for season)

Lions Injury Report

Detroit quarterback Jared Goff (16), left, shakes hands with running back David Montgomery (5) to celebrate after Montgomery scores a touchdown against Green Bay Packers during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
  • David Montgomery — OUT (RB, Knee)
  • Emmanuel Moseley — OUT (DB, Illness)
  • Alex Anzalone — QUESTIONABLE (LB, Forearm)
  • Kalif Raymond — QUESTIONABLE (WR, Foot)
  • Craig Reynolds — QUESTIONABLE (RB, Back)

Christian Mahogany (G), Jack Campbell (LB), and Amik Robertson (CB) were limited in practice this week but will enter Sunday with no injury designation.

Minnesota is a three-point underdog at the Lions in Week 18. The Vikings have historically dominated — like, totally dominated — the head-to-head series but have lost four straight to Detroit.

Injury Report
Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

The Vikings remain in second place in the NFC North, right behind Detroit, because of a tiebreaker. The Lions defeated the purple team by two points in Week 7.

Minnesota’s Super Bowl probability has climbed from +8000 to +850 in the last four months, a signal that oddsmakers are beginning to buy what the purple team is selling. Nobody anywhere predicted Minnesota to be 14-2 at this point on the calendar. Instead, most would’ve guessed a mark closer to .500.

Detroit-Minnesota, a matchup between 14-win teams, is considered one of the most anticipated games in the NFL’s regular season history.

The Lions are balanced, ranking third leaguewide per offensive DVOA and seventh in defense.

Minnesota hasn’t grabbed the No. 1 seed in the postseason since 1998.

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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. 

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.