Vikings Pro Bowler Claims Injury Won’t Hold Him Out of Lions Game
He didn’t keep it very mysterious — Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard will play on Sunday at the Detroit Lions after logging a limited practice on Wednesday.
It’s Detroit Lions week for the Minnesota Vikings, and one special someone claims he will play hell or high water, an encouraging mindset.
Greenard spoke with KFAN this week, claiming he won’t miss this one, not the Lions game.
Vikings OLB Jonathan Greenard Says He’s Good to Go
… and Minnesota will need every ounce of Greenard.
Greenard Tells Paul Allen, “Yep”
Practicing in a limited capacity early this week, no one was too sure if Greenard would be cleared for Sunday’s game in Detroit. That seemed like a verdict reserved for Friday’s injury report.
But Greenard spilled the beans, telling the Power Trip Morning Show on Thursday, “It’s Detroit. Come on, I’m not missing that.”
That didn’t leave much to mystery, and for only the second time this season, Minnesota could have its full stable of EDGE rushers at Ford Field.
Hobbled after Thursday Night Football
Greenard injured his ankle — there’s a lot of that going around for the Vikings — in a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers last Thursday, and with the long break, sometimes called a “mini-bye,” the veteran pass rusher had time to heal. The calendar flipped to this week, with Greenard drawing a “limited” practice on Wednesday, followed by a full participation on Thursday.
So, with his announcement on Allen’s show, coupled with his full participation, you can write in ink Greenard’s name on the depth chart for Sunday. He’s back.
Andrew Van Ginkel Probably Back, Too
Greenard’s buddy, fellow outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, is evidently back, too.
Our Janik Eckardt wrote Thursday, “Excellent news arrived on Wednesday, as second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler Andrew Van Ginkel was a full participant in practice after missing the last four games with a neck injury. The defender got some limited work for a couple of weeks but hadn’t cleared the full-practice hump prior to Wednesday.”
“A critical part, indeed, Van Ginkel was a player Brian Flores wanted to have in last year’s free agency, and he hit the ground running in the Twin Cities in what surely was his breakout season. Ultimately, he made 79 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, and famously, two pick-sixes.”
Van Ginkel also banked another full practice Thursday, meaning he, too, is good to go.
Facing One of the Best Offenses in the World
The Lions floss the NFL’s fifth-best offense per DVOA through eight weeks, trailing the Indianapolis Colts (No. 1), Kansas City Chiefs (No. 2), Los Angeles Rams (No. 3), and Buffalo Bills (No. 4). Their offensive line is spectacular, their playmakers electric.
Detroit doesn’t really have soft spots on offense, making Greenard’s health and presence basically mandatory for Sunday if Minnesota wants to fulfill an underdog mission.
The Vikings haven’t won a game in Detroit in five years.
SI.com on Greenard
Jonathan Harrison noted on Greenard Thursday, “The star Vikings pass rusher popped up on the team’s first injury report of the week with an ankle injury that limited his participation in the team’s practice on Wednesday. Greenard was dinged up in the team’s 37-10 loss to the Chargers last Thursday, only appearing on 67 percent of the Vikings’ defensive snaps.”
“Greenard’s box score production has suffered a notable drop this year, with just two sacks in the first seven weeks of the season. By this time last season, he already had five of his 12 total sacks. However, the 28-year-old remains a vital piece of Brian Flores’ defense. Greenard leads the Vikings with 30 pressures, per PFF, which is tied with the Rams’ Byron Young for sixth-most in the league.”
The Pro Bowl EDGE still hasn’t missed a game as a member of the Vikings.
“Greenard is also a key part of Minnesota’s run defense. If Greenard is able to go, and all indications from him point to that being the case, it could mean Minnesota will have its full pass rushing trio for the first time since the Week 3 win over the Bengals. Andrew Van Ginkel returned to full participation on Wednesday after missing the previous five weeks with a neck injury and has said his goal is to play on Sunday,” Harrison added.
“If the Vikings are going to have a chance at pulling off the upset, they’ll need to find a way to put pressure on Goff and prevent him from picking their secondary apart.”
Minnesota hasn’t pulled off an upset of Week 9’s caliber (more than an eight-point underdog) since 2010.
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