Minnesota Vikings guard Dru Samia has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.
So far this season, the Minnesota Vikings have been lucky enough to not have any of their games be heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Playing at home is not much of an advantage this year for the Vikings thanks to the virus. But Minnesota hasn’t had to take the field without one of their top players like Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen, or Kirk Cousins this season due to the virus.
On Sunday, it was revealed that Vikings offensive lineman Dru Samia has tested positive for COVID-19 and he will not be traveling to the team’s game on Monday night against the Chicago Bears according to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero.
How does Dru Samia’s diagnosis impact the Minnesota Vikings?
While we already know that Samia won’t be suiting up on Monday night, we don’t know if any other Minnesota players will be forced to sit out for the matchup as well due to being a close contact with the offensive lineman.
Since Samia has been demoted, he probably hasn’t made much contact with any Vikings players from the team’s first-string units on offense or defense. But we don’t know who the Minnesota offensive lineman has come in close contact with off of the field, so it’s possible that some starters could still be forced to sit out this week’s matchup.
If Vikings starters are forced to miss Monday night’s game because they were a close contact of Samia’s, it could have a huge impact on the results. Minnesota already struggles whenever they face the Bears on the road and potentially not having some of their top players out on the field is just going to make it harder for the Vikings to come away with a win.
Why the Vikings can win their final eight games of the 2020 season
There are a number of reasons why the Minnesota Vikings should have a chance to earn a victory in each of the final eight games left on their schedule.
With a 3-5 record, Minnesota can’t afford to lose too many more games if they still want to make the playoffs this season. Sunday’s news has the potential to cost the Vikings a victory on Monday and ruin any momentum the team has built up since returning from their bye in Week 8.