Vikings Defender Might Return in Divisional Clash
The Minnesota Vikings have to wait until Monday for their kickoff. It’s a home game against the Chicago Bears, the same team that forced overtime against the Vikings just a few weeks ago, resulting in a clutch drive by Sam Darnold in overtime in which he completed all six of his passes.
Vikings Defender Might Return in Divisional Clash
Darnold has exceeded all expectations, tossing 28 touchdowns in only 13 games while leading his team to an 11-2 record.
Chicago’s passer, on the other hand, has not reached the sky-high expectations folks had for his rookie season, although he has shown flashes of the exciting potential that made him the unquestioned first-overall pick.
On Monday, Caleb Williams will face a Vikings defense that has been a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks, especially the league-high 20 interceptions in 13 games. One of those was caught by Stephon Gilmore, who might be ready to make his comeback against the Bears.
Gilmore missed the game against Kirk Cousins’ Falcons last week due to a hamstring injury he suffered in the previous contest against the Cardinals. The cornerback missed practice on Thursday and Friday, and it surely looked like he’d miss his second consecutive game.
However, he returned to the field on Saturday and was listed as a limited participant on the injury report.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert shared a video of the defender moving around on the practice field:
He is the only Viking entering the game with a questionable tag. Besides the players on IR, the team is fully healthy.
Last Friday, head coach O’Connell ruled out his starting cornerback and gave an update, confirming it is not a long-term injury. Asked whether Gilmore was still on the expected timeline, O’Connell said, “Yes, it was always something that you kind of hold your fingers crossed just in case he can get a limited day in and possibly available, but he’s right on schedule with what we probably thought he would be and we’ll see what next week looks like.”
Injury aside, Gilmore has been a fantastic addition. He joined the club in August when there were some serious questions about the starting group and the depth in the cornerback room. The former Defensive Player of the Year is clearly past his prime at the age of 34, but he is still an effective player in coverage and in the running game.
Gilmore has earned a PFF grade of 66.6, allowing 45 of 68 targets to be caught for 428 yards and three touchdowns. Together with his one interception ‒ to clinch the game against the Jets in Week 5 ‒ that results in a passer rating of 92.0.
None of that places him among the elite coverage players in the league, but the numbers suggest above-average play, and that’s a major upgrade over some past CBs in the Twin Cities,
The Vikings need Gilmore at 100% in the playoffs, so they won’t take any risks with the veteran. If he’s out once again, Byron Murphy will be listed next to Shaq Griffin in the starting lineup, and Fabian Moreau is the third CB.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt