Vikings Final Injury Report for TNF Is a Mess
Yet another time this season, the Minnesota Vikings will be shorthanded, this time at the Los Angeles Chargers. The club released a final injury report on Wednesday, peppered with questionable statuses and players who won’t play. Here we go again.
As always this season, the Minnesota Vikings’ injury report is a real humdinger, as the club sets sail on SoFi Stadium for Thursday Night Football.
Kevin O’Connell’s squad is expected to fall by three or four points, and the injury report did nothing to sway that point spread.
Andrew Vin Ginkel Out, Others Questionable on Vikings TNF Injury Report
Some day — Minnesota might have a healthy team.
Who’s Out
Minnesota will hope to find a dub without a starting EDGE rusher and fullback. Vikings.com‘s Craig Peters wrote Wednesday, “Minnesota on Wednesday ruled out fullback C.J. Ham, who suffered a hand injury Sunday, and outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (neck). Van Ginkel has been sidelined since Week 3.”
Like quarterback J.J. McCarthy, Van Ginkel and Ham will now have 10 days to heal and rest for a Week 9 game at the Detroit Lions, a team Minnesota hasn’t defeated in three years.
Who’s Questionable
Minnesota’s list of questionable players for Thursday night is also concerning, mainly because some names were unforeseen.
Here’s the tally:
- Christian Darrisaw (LT)
- Aaron Jones Sr. (RB)
- J.J. McCarthy (QB)
- Brian O’Neill (RT)
- Zavier Scott (RB)
Darrisaw should play, and the questionable status is probably a formality because of the short TNF turnaround. Jones is likely to be activated from IR (practice window) and play in Los Angeles. McCarthy is the emergency third quarterback while his high ankle sprain fully heals. Scott is the RB3, and Minnesota can get by without him if Jones is ready to go or the club promotes Cam Akers from the practice squad.
O’Neill is the big mystery, and the injury that makes this report messy. He sprained his MCL in Dublin last month but returned last week against the Eagles. Thursday Night Football will change drastically if O’Neill can’t play, and fans don’t even want to consider life without O’Neill and Darrisaw.
J.J. McCarthy as the Emergency QB3
Carson Wentz will start his fifth straight game and hopes to improve on his third-worst-in-the-NFL grade among quarterbacks per Pro Football Focus. Wentz played terribly last weekend versus his old team, with his blunders and turnovers that almost singlehandedly prevented Minnesota from winning.
The team didn’t trust rookie Max Brosmer to start, an undrafted Minnesota Golden Gopher who performed well in the preseason.
McCarthy assumes his job from last weekend — the emergency quarterback, with all signs pointing to his lineup reinsertion at the Detroit Lions in 11 days.
Chargers Banged Up, Too
In addition to a ton of players on injured reserve, these Chargers players are questionable:
- Joe Alt (OT)
- Jamaree Caldwell (DL)
- Austin Deculus (OT)
- Troy Dye (LB)
- Elijah Molden (DB)
- Trey Pipkins III (OL)
- Jamaree Salyver (OLB)
Reserve running back Hassan Haskins has also been ruled out.
Alt is the headliner from the above list. He told reporters this week that he will play, but if Los Angeles holds him out of the lineup, the Vikings’ defense against the Chargers’ offense is a brand-new ball of wax.
LAC-Themed Injuries on Los Angeles’ Injuries
Bolt Beat‘s Alexander Insdorf wrote Wednesday, “The LA Chargers released their final injury report with signs finally pointing in the right direction for the return of one of their best players. Joe Alt is listed as Questionable with an ankle injury, but he was able to participate in practice/walkthroughs each day this week.”
“Alt also told ESPN’s Kris Rhim that the plan is for him to return on Thursday Night Football. The Chargers have had Austin Deculus and Bobby Hart start at tackle in recent weeks following injuries to both Alt and RT Trey Pipkins. In addition to Alt’s return, there’s also at least a chance that Pipkins returns tomorrow. He’s listed as Questionable (knee). Like Alt, he also managed to participate in each day of practice.”
Minnesota hasn’t faced a Jim Harbaugh-led team since Adrian Peterson’s MVP season in 2012.
Insdorf added, “Potentially having at least one of Alt or Pipkins back at tackle is huge considering the attrition the Chargers have gone through at the position over the last month. Other players listed as Questionable include DT Jamaree Caldwell (illness), OT Austin Deculus (ankle), LB Troy Dye (thumb), and S Elijah Molden (thumb). The top two backs for the Chargers in Thursday’s game will likely be Kimani Vidal and Nyheim Hines.”
“They also now have four running backs on the practice squad including Hines, Amar Johnson, Jaret Patterson, and Trayveon Williams. The offense will need a positive game script to get any type of consistent run game going this week. They certainly can’t start from down 17 like in the Colts game.”
Keep track of Minnesota’s offensive tackles on Thursday. They’re the meal ticket to a possible win.
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