Vikings RB Returns to Practice on Thursday
Josh Frey
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The Minnesota Vikings are getting set to take on the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football this weekend.
Heading into that game, there are a number of top names on the roster that are dealing with injuries right now. One of those names is Alexander Mattison, who left Week 10’s matchup with the New Orleans Saints due to a concussion.
While it seemed safe to say that the Vikings RB would be out for this weekend’s game, Mattison’s status may have changed for the positive on Thursday. The starting running back was back at practice in a limited fashion.
Vikings RB Returns to Practice on Thursday
Here is the full Vikings injury report for Thursday:
- LB Brian Asamoah (Ankle, Limited)
- QB Josh Dobbs (Ankle, Full)
- CB Akayleb Evans (Calf, DNP)
- QB Jaren Hall (Concussion, Full)
- TE T.J. Hockenson (Ribs, Limited)
- WR Justin Jefferson (Hamstring, Limited)*
- DL Dean Lowry (Groin, Full)
- RB Alexander Mattison, (Concussion, Limited)
- QB Nick Mullens (Back, Limited)*
- WR K.J. Osborn (Concussion, Full)
- IOL Chris Reed (Foot, Full)*
*: Currently withing 21-day practice window
If Mattison were able to play on Sunday, it would give the Vikings another option alongside second-year RB Ty Chandler, who scored his first NFL touchdown last weekend and came very close to another.
Perhaps Chandler is capable of holding down the RB1 role for a week, but Mattison’s presence would at least give the Vikings another option to run the ball. Kene Nwangwu also got a couple carries in Week 10, so he could be a name to keep an eye on as well heading into this weekend.
Thursday brought more positive signs for other players on the Vikings offense as well. K.J. Osborn remained a full participant on Thursday, so he should be available to suit up on Sunday night as long as there are no setbacks tomorrow or Saturday. Justin Jefferson once again was a limited participant as the Vikings continue to ramp him up.
Rookie QB Jaren Hall was bumped up to a full participant on Thursday too, improving from his limited status on Wednesday. The fifth-round pick started Minnesota’s Week 8 game against the Atlanta Falcons before leaving in the first quarter with a concussion.
With Hall and Mullens back at practice, it would seem that the Vikings soon will have a full QB room once again (sans Kirk Cousins, of course), giving them options in case Josh Dobbs were to suffer an injury. Dobbs was a full participant for a second straight day despite his ankle injury.
The Vikings will release one more injury report on Friday with the initial game statuses for all of their injured players.
Then, they will kick off their Sunday Night Football matchup against Denver at 7:20 PM Central on November 19th.
Previewing This Week’s Vikings Game: Week 11 at Denver Broncos
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.