2 Vikings Starters Questionable for Sunday
On Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings will play their final road divisional game. This time, the Green Bay Packers face the Vikings, who are coming off two straight home losses. The Packers are favored by nearly a touchdown.
2 Vikings Starters Questionable for Sunday
Perhaps the final injury report could change that a little. On Wednesday, folks were almost shocked to see only a handful of names listed on the injury report, and that hasn’t gotten worse as the week has progressed.
On Friday, the Vikings released the final injury report, and only two players have injury designations: Ryan Kelly and Jonathan Greenard.
Christian Darrisaw was listed with his usual rest day on Thursday, but he’s good to go. The star left tackle has seemingly gotten his knee injury, which he suffered last year, under control. Right guard Will Fries was listed on Wednesday with a knee injury, and he missed practice. Thursday’s report said limited, and he’s also ready to roll on Friday.
And finally, we have Aaron Jones on there. The starting running back suffered a shoulder injury a couple of weeks ago, but he didn’t miss any practice time this week.
Speaking of shoulder injuries, Greenard missed last week’s loss against the Chicago Bears because of a shoulder injury. He picked up that injury in the previous game against the Ravens, when he fell awkwardly while chasing Lamar Jackson.
He didn’t practice on Wednesday and was limited on Thursday. With a questionable designation, Greenard has a chance to play. The Bears game has been his only missed one since signing with the Vikings in free agency in the 2024 offseason.
If he’s out once again, we’d get another good look at sophomore Dallas Turner after having some kind of breakout game in Greenard’s role.
Also questionable is center Ryan Kelly, who has only three appearances on his 2025 resume. Two separate concussions have forced him to miss the other seven, including the last six. Once he suffered his second one, the Vikings had to be cautious and placed the veteran on IR.
The four-time Pro Bowler has been replaced by Blake Brandel, who has quietly put together multiple solid performances in a row.
Kelly’s 21-day practice window was opened last week, and he returned to practice in a limited fashion. This week, however, he was a full participant, and he seems likely to be ready for the first time since the squad’s trip to Dublin.
Star Tribune’s Emily Leiker reported from Kevin O’Connell’s presser, “Kevin O’Connell says OLB Jonathan Greenard is questionable for Sunday vs. the Packers. He was limited again at practice today. C Ryan Kelly is questionable, too, but KO said it’s ‘procedural.'”
At this point, Kelly has not been activated to the 53-man roster. The Vikings can’t make that move until Saturday afternoon, and they have prepared for it on Thursday when they said goodbye to cornerback Dwight McGlothern.
Kelly’s return is quite sweet. Unless his absence continues for one reason or another, it’ll be the first time the Vikings have their entire starting five available: Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill on the outside, and Donovan Jackson, Ryan Kelly, and Will Fries at guard and center.
Only Fries has played in all ten games, while the others have missed games. The unit has the potential to be the best in the Twin Cities in years.
Sunday’s divisional bout is a noon game.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.