REPORT: Tom Compton has sprained MCL, Sunday status in doubt
By Chris Schad
The left guard for the Minnesota Vikings has a sprained MCL, which could put his availability against the New Orleans Saints in jeopardy.
The Minnesota Vikings have been hit hard by injuries this season and in last week’s victory over the New York Jets, the team lost three starters due to injury. While it may be too soon to know the exact status of Xavier Rhodes (ankle) and Anthony Barr (hamstring), the pieces may be falling into place when it comes to starting guard Tom Compton.
Compton left Sunday’s victory with what was classified as a knee injury and on Wednesday, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero shed some light on the issue.
On #Vikings LG Tom Compton: It’s an MCL sprain, I’m told. Availability in doubt for Sunday night vs. #Saints.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 24, 2018
Compton was a free agent acquisition from the Chicago Bears last offseason and was thrust into the starting lineup in the preseason after Nick Easton went down with a season-ending neck injury. Since then, Compton has been the team’s most consistent lineman and had the highest overall grade (67.8) among the starting five in the trenches.
If Compton is unable to go on Sunday, the Vikings will likely turn to Danny Isidora. The 2017 fifth-round selection was serviceable against the Jets, but will also have a tougher test against the Saints with stud defensive tackles Sheldon Rankins and Alex Okafor patrolling the left side of the line.
The Saints have also improved in run defense, touting the best run-stopping unit in the NFL. That will make finding running lanes for Latavius Murray even more difficult, but necessary to keep the ball out of Drew Brees’ hands.
Next. 3 takeaways from Vikings vs Jets. dark
The hope is that Isidora can hold his own for at least two weeks until the Vikings approach their much-needed bye in Week 10. If that can happen, Minnesota might be able to make a march toward the second seed in the NFC on Sunday night.