Final Minnesota Vikings Injury Report for Week 14 is Full…
The Minnesota Vikings will play against their former quarterback, Kirk Cousins, and his new team the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium. Kevin O’Connell & Co are riding in high, on a five-game win streak. Atlanta, losers of three-straight, are feeling the heat from Falcons fans and media.
But that isn’t the entire pregame story, this week. Sure, the Minnesota Vikings are 10-2, but they just fell behind another half-game in their own division on Thursday night, when the Detroit Lions defeated the Green Bay Packers, to move to 12-1, on their season. If the purple want to keep pace, they have to beat the Falcons.
Final Minnesota Vikings Injury Report – Week 14
And they will have to do that with one of the most crowded final injury reports of the season. On Friday, top cornerback Stephon Gilmore was officially ruled out, after missing practice all week. But he wasn’t the only one listed. Starters Dalton Risner (RG), Andrew Van Ginkel (EDGE) and rookie kicker Will Reichard, among others, were all listed as questionable.
| Out | Questionable |
|---|---|
| Stephon Gilmore (CB) | Dalton Risner (RG) |
| Andrew Van Ginkel (EDGE) | |
| Harrison Phillips (DT) | |
| Patrick Jones II (EDGE) | |
| Will Reichard (K)* | |
| Andrew DePaola (LS)* |
Dalton Risner was one of the best offensive linemen on the Minnesota Vikings roster, last week, in their win over the Arizona Cardinals, posting an 88.0 PFF pass blocking grade, and a 69.9 overall grade. Both were 15-20 points higher than his career average.
On Thursday, the 29-year-old, 6-year NFL veteran surprisingly popped up on the injury report. One day later, he’s listed as questionable to play, meaning the Vikings may have turn back to Ed Ingram, who was a healthy scratch in week 13.
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Andrew Van Ginkel, who is near the top of just about every statistical defensive category on the Vikings roster, including tackles (59), sacks (9), interceptions touchdowns (2) and tackles for loss (15). He has been limited all week with a thigh injury.
Vikings defense in danger of losing their best players vs Atlanta Falcons
Losing Van Ginkel would be devastating to what the Vikings are trying to do defensively, especially since arguably their best cover corner is already out. The same can be said for Harrison Phillips, who is one of the emotional and veteran leaders of a Minnesota defense that relies on those guys to run the very free-willed defense that Brian Flores likes to run.
Even Pat Jones is enjoying a career year, The 26-year-old has played in 12 games and recorded 7.0 sacks, easily a career-high. The more of these guys they lose, the less freelancing and on-field adjustments will be made, pre-snap. In theory, that should make the Minnesota Vikings defense more predictable for a veteran QB like Kirk Cousins.
Related: Top 10 Most Defining Moments of Kirk Cousins Career with the Minnesota Vikings
Head coach Kevin O’Connell said that the Vikings will make a decision on Will Reichard today. As of now, John Parker Romo is still on the roster, but KOC said earlier this week that, barring any setbacks, Reichard was expected back vs the Falcons. Long-snapper Andrew DePaola is expected to return, after the team released his replacement earlier in the week.
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