Vikings News: Danielle Hunter, Dalvin Cook, NFC North, and MNF

Vikings and 49ers will both be missing an offensive starter on Monday night

After defeating the Bears last week to pick up their second win of the 2023 season, the Vikings will attempt to improve their record to 3-4 this year by defeating a heavily favored 5-1 49ers team inside U.S. Bank Stadium on Monday night.

If Minnesota is going to get a win this week, it will have to be without starting left guard Ezra Cleveland. After injuring his foot last week, Cleveland was ruled out of this matchup on Saturday, and veteran Dalton Risner will start in his place.

In addition to Cleveland being ruled out, the Vikings also listed cornerback Akayleb Evans as questionable due to an oblique injury, and wide receiver Jalen Nailor is also listed as questionable for Monday night due to a hamstring injury.

On the other side of the field, San Francisco will be without All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel on Monday night. Samuel injured his shoulder last week and is expected to miss multiple games due to the injury.

In addition to Samuel, the 49ers could also have to face the Vikings without All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams. Last week, Williams played through an injured ankle, and on Saturday, San Francisco listed him as doubtful for Monday on their final injury report.

Despite the 49ers potentially not having both Samuel and Williams out on the field this week, it does sound like San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey is going to attempt to play through a hip injury on Monday night in Minnesota.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Sunday that "all signs point to [McCaffrey] playing" on Monday against the Vikings. Whether or not the All-Pro running back will be able to make it through the entire game with his injury will certainly be something to pay attention to throughout the matchup.