Thielen, Darrisaw Are Out; Several Vikings Questionable for Thursday Night Football
K. Joudry
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The Vikings released their final injury report leading up to the Thursday Night Football game. Adam Thielen (as we expected) and Christian Darrisaw have been ruled out. Several more are listed as questionable:
Running back Dalvin Cook (shoulder), safety Camryn Bynum (ankle) and linebacker Blake Lynch (hip) were listed as questionable. Cook and Lynch were listed as limited for the past two practices; Bynum fully participated Wednesday. None of the other Vikings on this week’s injury report — linebackers Eric Kendricks (biceps), Anthony Barr (knee/hamstring) and Ryan Connelly (quadriceps), and cornerbacks Mackensie Alexander (ribs) and Bashaud Breeland (groin) — received a designation for the game.
The end result is a considerably deeper Vikings defense. Having players like Barr and Kendricks back makes a huge difference. Moreover, don’t forget that this discussion doesn’t include Patrick Peterson, who has been activated from the Covid-19 list. Big Ben may not be the player he used to be, but they have Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson, and Najee Harris. In other words, it won’t be easy to slow them down. Mike Tomlin is an excellent head coach. He’ll ensure his guys are ready to roll.
Dalvin Cook may be questionable, but it’ll be very surprising if he actually plays. He suffered a reasonably significant shoulder injury. Rolling with Alexander Mattison is the right thing to do here, folks. I suspect the Vikings are offering a plausible fiction – Cook could play – to simply force Pittsburgh to spend an extra moment or two preparing for the possibility.
The Steelers are navigating a few notable injuries of their own: “Steelers Wednesday injury report: Pittsburgh ruled out cornerback Joe Haden (foot), linebacker Robert Spillane (knee), guard B.J. Finney (back) and defensive end Isaiah Buggs (ankle). None of the four players participated this week.”
Obviously, the Vikings Thursday Night Football game has major playoff implications for both sides. I’m expecting a purple victory simply because this team always defies expectations. As soon as fans resign themselves to a losing fate, Minnesota storms back with a clutch win or two. Why change now?
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