REPORT: Pat Elflein to be activated from PUP list, likely out for Week 1

The Minnesota Vikings center is expected to return to practice on Sunday, but Pat Elflein will not play in the team’s season opener on September 9.

As the Minnesota Vikings cut down their roster to 53 players by Saturday’s deadline, one of the key decisions has been whether to put starting center Pat Elflein on the physically unable to perform list entering the regular season. Such a move would have the second-year center missing the first six games of the year.

The Vikings got good news on that front this morning as the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling reported on Twitter that Elflein will practice tomorrow, but is unlikely to be ready for the team’s season opener on September 9 against the San Francisco 49ers.

Elflein has spent all of training camp and the preseason schedule on the PUP list as he recovers from ankle and shoulder surgeries. His return to the lineup will be welcomed with open arms as the offensive line has been a major question mark that has been emphasized with the Chicago Bears’ acquisition of Khalil Mack.

Despite the recent news that Elflein may not be ready for Week 1, this has been something that the Vikings have been preparing for in recent weeks. Minnesota traded for offensive lineman Brett Jones from the New York Giants last week and after a successful debut in the preseason finale against the Tennessee Titans, he will likely fill in until Elflein is ready to go.

Elflein’s return to game action may also require clearing some hurdles as he has yet to snap to new quarterback Kirk Cousins and the line is drastically different than the one he worked beside in the NFC Championship Game last January. However, once he returns the Vikings offense will get a big shot in the arm.