The Minnesota Vikings are in for a key NFC North matchup against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. They are looking to get a bit more healthy and there was some clarity provided on that end during practice on Thursday.
Minnesota Vikings gain some and lose some on the injury report
Last week the Minnesota Vikings were without the services of Jordan Addison (again), Ivan Pace Jr. (surprisingly), and Dallas Turner. They are looking to gain some health from that group heading into a matchup against the Green Bay Packers. There is some good news on that front.
Jordan Addison on the field for the second straight day. Garrett Bradbury returned. Did not see Ivan Pace Jr. or Christian Darrisaw. Jay Ward and Jonathan Bullard were on the rehab field. pic.twitter.com/hNNwrnLtRg
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) September 26, 2024
Minnesota has had Jordan Addison on the field for just a portion of their first game. He suffered an ankle injury in joint practices against the Cleveland Browns. Ready to go for Week 1, the New York Giants sent Addison to the locker room with an illegal tackle. In his only action this year, Addison caught 3-of-4 targets for 35 yards.
Welcome to the NFL, Dallas Turner!
— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024
The @vikings rookie gets his first-career sack 💪
📺: #MINvsNYG on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/9KiwhxvE40
Related: Vikings vs Packers: Latest on Jordan Love Injury, Status for Week 4
Dallas Turner picked up a sack in his first NFL game. He was then active against the San Francisco 49ers but found himself out of the lineup against the Houston Texans. As Minnesota looks to control the Packers quarterbacks, having another edge rusher to rotate in could be huge. He was a full participant on Thursday and should be good to go.
Thursday's #Vikings injury report pic.twitter.com/gHU2Kk3szw
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 26, 2024
The unfortunate caveat to players being back is that there are more now on the sidelines. Ivan Pace Jr. was absent, and so too was starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw. The former was a surprise inactive last week. Kamu Grugier-Hill stepped up, but Blake Cashman could certainly use his typical running mate. Sam Darnold’s blindside protector being on the shelf would be sub-optimal as well. He was just dealing with an illness on Thursday.
After Garrett Bradbury didn’t practice on Wednesday, he returned in a limited capacity on Thursday. Jonathan Bullard and Jay Ward could be in danger of missing Sunday’s tilt as both carried their did not practice designation from Wednesday. After the knee scare last week, Darnold has been full all week and is good to go.
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Minnesota doesn’t need to be at full strength in order to beat the Packers. If Jordan Love goes, it sounds like he won’t be. What they do need to be is prepared, and that means for whatever contributors they have available.