Vikings Week 3 Injury Report: Mike Hughes could return vs. Raiders

Heading into Week 3 against the Oakland Raiders, the Minnesota Vikings have a chance of having former first-round draft pick Mike Hughes suit up.

Two weeks of the 2019 NFL season are in the books and the Minnesota Vikings are sitting at 1-1 and share the cellar of the NFC North. However, the team can put themselves in better position if they can get a win on Sunday.

Their opponents in Week 3 are the Oakland Raiders. Nobody really expected the silver and black to be as competitive as they are this season considering they traded away some star players and cut Antonio Brown, but they aren’t the joke of a team many were expecting.

Minnesota will want to have as many of their talented players available as possible and according to the injury report released on the team’s official website, they could be getting a big piece of the team back.

Let’s take a look at who is in and who is out during the Week 3 game between the Minnesota Vikings and Oakland Raiders!

Minnesota Vikings

RULED OUT

• Mackensie Alexander, cornerback – elbow

DOUBTFUL

• – none –

QUESTIONABLE

• Ben Gedeon, linebacker – groin
• Pat Elflein, guard – knee
• Mike Hughes, cornerback – knee
• Anthony Barr, linebacker – groin

The best news from this list is that Mike Hughes actually has a chance of playing in Week 3. Considering Alexander will miss another week and Holton Hill is still suspended, having a former first-round pick return to the defense should be a great benefit to a team that already looks pretty good on the field.

However, seeing two starting linebackers as questionable has to be a bit scary. While it’s not likely that both will be out on Sunday, even being banged up isn’t a good thing considering lack of depth at linebacker. Eric Wilson will be on call and ready to go in case one of them is unable to play.

Oakland Raiders

RULED OUT

• Dwayne Harris, wide receiver – ankle
• Gabe Jackson, guard – knee

DOUBTFUL

• – none –

QUESTIONABLE

• Trent Brown, tackle – knee
• Vontaze Burfict, linebacker – shoulder/knee
• Corey Liuget, defensive tackle – knee
• P.J. Hall, defensive tackle – illness
• Denzelle Good, offensive line – ankle
• Lamarcus Joyner, safety – groin

To see Oakland’s starting right guard out and his backup questionable with a knee injury has to make Linval Joseph lick his lips. The Big Goon will have an opportunity to feast on depth players on the Raiders offensive line, which can only mean good things for the Vikings defense.

Otherwise, the Raiders are pretty healthy, Like the Vikings, they have some players who are banged up but will likely suit up and play at a solid level. Still, it should never be understated that this Oakland team has talented individuals on their roster and can’t be taken lightly.

The return of Mike Hughes would give time for Mackensie Alexander to heal and return to the lineup when he is ready. Otherwise, fans should expect every other player on the injury report for the Minnesota Vikings to suit up on Sunday.