Vikings on Track to Welcome Back Starter vs. Bears
Minnesota Vikings safety Theo Jackson missed last Sunday’s loss against the Baltimore Ravens, but thanks to some clues early this week, the man is trending to return this weekend for the showdown versus the Chicago Bears.
The Vikings could regain a key starter for their upcoming matchup with the Chicago Bears, offering a timely boost to the defense’s stability.
Jackson took over for departed safety Camryn Bynum during the offseason, hitting a speed bump due to a concussion in Week 9 at the Detroit Lions.
Theo Jackson Trending to Return for Vikings
At 4-5, Minnesota will take all the help it can get.
Theo Jackson Update Is Positive for Week 11
This one is pretty straightforward.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday, “Theo Jackson cleared the concussion protocol this morning, so he should be a full participant and be back this week.”
In plain speak, O’Connell announced Jackson’s return, so the starting safety should be in the mix for the matchup with the Bears.
Facing the Suddenly Hot Bears
Everyone blinked, and the Bears manufactured a 6-3 record. Per wins and losses, Minnesota won’t quite face the same team it defeated in Week 1, thanks to quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s theatrics.
Welcoming Jackson back on defense will therefore be impactful. In years past against Chicago, Minnesota might have gotten away with beating the Bears sans a player like Jackson. The 2025 campaign may be different.
It’s also worth noting, for good measure, that the Bears’ efficiency metrics don’t match the billboard. Per DVOA, the Bears are the NFL’s eighth-worst team, believe it or not. Their strength of victory is especially embarrassing, meaning they’re tabulating wins against bad teams and losing to good ones.
Further Updates This Week
On Jackson, daily injury reports, beginning Wednesday, will tell a clearer story. O’Connell said Jackson will participate in full, so anything other than Full by Wednesday afternoon would be a bit odd. Jackson carried a questionable status into Week 10, but the team ultimately decided to rest him against the Ravens.
Other Vikings players like Ryan Kelly, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Jeff Okudah have suffered concussions this season and missed time accordingly.
Jackson has a 64.5 Pro Football Focus grade through 10 weeks, an impressive mark for a first-time starter hoping to stay attached to the lineup for the long haul.
Jonathan Greenard Watch, Too
Greenard went down while bringing down Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in Week 10, and given how the Vikings’ first half unfolded injury-wise, fans immediately braced for disaster. It had that “here we go again” feeling — another key starter, another long-term concern.
But this time, the news broke in Minnesota’s favor. Greenard’s injury turned out to be a minor shoulder issue — serious enough to possibly keep him out against the Bears, but not the kind that ends a season. Relief, at least for now, washed over Vikings Territory.
When Greenard first hit the turf, though, the scene was grim. The Pro Bowl EDGE writhed in pain for a couple of minutes before walking off under his own power. Within moments, the Vikings ruled him out, and social media filled with predictions of broken collarbones and IR stints. For a team already snakebitten by injuries, it felt like another cruel turn.
Instead, Dallas Turner’s imagined promotion to full-time starter can go back on the shelf — Greenard should return soon. Minnesota even layered on more optimism Monday, suggesting that center Ryan Kelly’s practice window is about to reopen. Kelly’s been sidelined for nearly two months after suffering two concussions in a span of 14 days.
If Kelly rejoins the mix in Week 12 or 13 and Greenard is back shortly after, the Vikings might finally roll out something resembling a fully healthy lineup — a scenario that’s felt impossible all season. Through ten weeks, at least one starter (usually two or three) has been missing from every game. That could change soon, and for a team still trying to claw into playoff position, the timing couldn’t be better.
The Vikings’ defense ranks 13th per EPA/Play in 2025 and 17th in DVOA. The club curiously hasn’t forced turnovers akin to its blistering 2024 pace. In 2024, Brian Flores’ men pulled in 24 interceptions by season’s end. This year, the group has three.
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