Questions Answered: Injuries Arrive, Plan B at TE, Patrick Peterson
Dustin Baker
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The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by PurplePTSD. Today is the Halloween edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
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Q: How bad are the Vikings injuries from the win over the Cardinals?
A: Irv Smith reportedly has a high ankle sprain, while Dalvin Tomlinson is dealing with a calf injury.
On Monday, the Vikings coaching staff explained both men are “week to week,” which virtually assures they miss playing time. For Smith, Minnesota will either pull off a trade to help stop the bleeding at TE in November — it needed to get deeper at TE regardless of the Smith injury — or roll with Johnny Mundt and Jacob Hollister.
As for Tomlinson, newcomer Khyiris Tonga played against the Cardinals, and Kevin O’Connell commended his performance.
But, yes, the Vikings stretch of wonderful health following Lewis Cine’s injury is over.
Q: What do you think the Vikings will do without Irv Smith for at least a few weeks?
A: While a trade or free-agent signing is possible, the Vikings will likely lean on Johnny Mundt and Jacob Hollister until Irv Smith returns.
General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could trade for Mike Gesicki, Foster Moreau, Austin Hooper, etc., but those are speculative theories for now.
Hollister has starting experience (59 games played, 12 starts), so he and Mundrt are probably on the docket for Week 9 at the Washington Commanders.
Adofo-Mensah has one day left to execute a trade if he desires. The deadline is November 1st at 4:00 pm EST.
Q: Is Patrick Peterson playing at an elite level?
A: Pretty much.
Peterson ranks ninth in NFL through eight weeks among all CBs, per Pro Football Focus, with a 77.9 grade. And that score is Peterson’s best since 2018.
Indeed, the veteran has turned back the clock and carrying the Vikings CB room per performance, as a leader, and via mentorship.
Barring injury, it might just be “one of those seasons” for Peterson, who is already on track for the Hall of Fame.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).