Vikings Will Elevate Two Linemen Ahead of Week 17

Josh Frey |

Dec 31, 2022

Jun 11, 2019; Eagan, MN, USA; A Minnesota Vikings helmet sits on the field at TCO Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports

We found out yesterday that the Vikings would officially go into their battle with the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field without C Garrett Bradbury and DL James Lynch. In their places, the Vikings will elevate both guard Kyle Hinton and defensive lineman T.J. Smith ahead of Week 17’s game.

The #Vikings have elevated DL T.J. Smith and G Kyle Hinton to the active roster for #MINvsGB.
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 31, 2022

Hinton, a seventh-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft is yet to appear in an NFL game during his three-year career. There was a chance he’d make his NFL debut last week when the Vikings elevated him off the practice squad for Week 16, but he did not appear in the game. Now, we’ll see if the 24-year-old Washburn product finally gets his chance to take NFL snaps.

As for Smith, he appeared in one game during the 2021 season after the Vikings signed the UDFA. That game was Minnesota’s Week 11 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Smith played defensive snaps in the game, recording three tackles.

Lynch has been a reliable rotational defender for Ed Donatell’s defense so far this season, but in his stead, the Vikings will need to use a committee of linemen to replace his production. Smith could be part of that replacement plan on Sunday.

On the other sideline, the Green Bay Packers elevated two players for Sunday’s game as well: K Ramiz Ahmed and RB Tyler Goodson.

#Packers elevate two players for Sunday’s #MINvsGB game ???? https://t.co/dF3XRrpsK0
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 31, 2022

The plan with Ahmed appears to be that he will handle the kickoff duties for Green Bay in order to keep the ball out of Kene Nwangwu’s hands. The Vikings return specialist has 3 return TDs in his first two NFL seasons, including one against the Patriots on Thanksgiving.

The Packers are elevating Ramiz Ahmed to handle kickoffs. I wrote yesterday that Crosby leads the NFL in kick return attempts and is second in return percentage. In a game where field position will certainly matter, fewer opportunities for Nwangwu will be important. https://t.co/kcYCRDjk4j
— Paul Bretl (@Paul_Bretl) December 31, 2022

Goodson was a 2021 UDFA, and he is yet to appear in an NFL game following his three-year collegiate career at Iowa. With the Hawkeyes, he rushed for 2551 yards and scored 18 TDs. The Packers signed him to their practice squad following the preseason, and that’s where he’s remained throughout the season.

Kickoff between the Vikings and Packers is scheduled for 3:25 PM CST on Sunday.

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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. He also earned minors in History, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys marathon training, playing video games, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For more of his opinions, check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.