The Minnesota Vikings will not be near full strength in Week 17.
Week 17 is rapidly approaching and the season will soon come to a close for the Minnesota Vikings. Sadly, with no hope of reaching the postseason, their last game of the year lacks a lot of excitement and intrigue as they take on another team that was eliminated from the playoffs, the Detroit Lions.
The Vikings have struggled all year with injuries. Many important players have missed significant periods of time, making this year a hard one to swallow for a lot of fans hoping for a return to the postseason. Of course, that also means a significant number of players will be missing Sunday’s game against the Lions.
Fans already knew some important players would be missing for Week 17. Tight end Kyle Rudolph was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday, left tackle Riley Reiff was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, and a tragedy in the family of Dalvin Cook will keep him out of the game.
Otherwise, there were still some important additions to the players sitting out on Friday’s injury report. Here is the rundown according to the team’s official website:
Minnesota Vikings
OUT
- Dalvin Cook, RB – Not injury related
- Cameron Dantzler, CB – Hamstring
- Jalyn Holmes, DE – Groin
- Chris Jones, CB – Groin
- Eric Kendricks, LB – Calf
- Ifeadi Odenigbo, DE – Chest
DOUBTFUL
- – none –
QUESTIONABLE
- Dan Bailey, K – Back
Minnesota’s defense is already depleted as it is, but seeing two pass rushers, two corners and a Pro Bowl linebacker all being declared out is a rough draw for the Vikings if they hope to end the season with some positivity in the final game of the season.
Expect to see some new faces in new places in Week 17, with head coach Mike Zimmer and company using this game to evaluate some talent the Vikings weren’t able to do during the preseason with a lack of games and a lot of young players on the roster.
Detroit Lions
OUT
- Tyrell Crosby, OL – Ankle
- Joe Dahl, G – Back
- Kenny Golladay, WR – Hip
DOUBTFUL
- – none –
QUESTIONABLE
- Jamie Collins Sr., LB – Neck
- Frank Ragnow, OL – Throat
- Matthew Stafford, QB – Rib/Thumb
Stafford missing this game would be huge for the Vikings defense, especially considering it will be a patchwork unit on the field on Sunday. The Lions quarterback is criminally underrated among many fans and the drop-off from him to Chase Daniel is quite significant. Despite that, don’t sleep on Daniel either, as he is more than capable at the helm for Detroit.
Otherwise, there isn’t too much shocking about this report. Golladay has been struggling to stay healthy this year, but when he is available he can be a game-changing pass catcher. Meanwhile, Crosby and Dahl are both backups on the line for the Honolulu blue.
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How do you think this beaten up Minnesota Vikings defense will fare against the Detroit Lions in Week 17? And who will step up for the purple and gold with so many defenders on the shelf? Let us know your opinion in the comments.