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Minnesota Vikings Lose Key Starters for Sunday Night Football
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- Minnesota Vikings Lose Key Starters for Sunday Night Football
Steve Roberts-Imagn Images Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings injury report has been a mess in the wake of their Week 1 victory against the Chicago Bears . While Kevin O'Connell's team won the game, the roster took some serious body blows.
While Friday brought renewed hope with an additional day of practice, the game designations for multiple starters has been clarified. Unfortunately the outcomes are not positive.
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Defense loses two starters for MN Vikings
Last week Christian Darrisaw worked out pregame with a desire to be back on the field. Even the additional week of practice won't give him time to get ready as he'll miss a second straight week. This time he's being joined by starting defenders Andrew Van Ginkel and Jeff Okudah .
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Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell with some game status vs. Falcons:
Christian Darrisaw, Jeff Okudah and Andrew Van Ginkel are OUT. All are progressing.
Harrison Smith is QUESTIONABLE.
Ryan Kelly is ACTIVE.— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) September 12, 2025
Okudah has been talked up dating back to training camp and operated as a starter during Week 1 . He was carted off at the end of the game and is now going through concussion protocol.
The Vikings cornerback depth was already incredibly thin , and now the 53-man roster has just three players at the position. Fabian Moreau is on the practice squad , and played multiple games for the Minnesota Vikings last year. An elevation for him makes sense.
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The Vikings front seven has been the key to the defense as they have built all offseason. Van Ginkel being removed from that group is a significant blow. Like Okudah, he too is progressing through concussion protocol.
That will force Dallas Turner to step up in a big way. With Blake Cashman going on injured reserve yesterday, the linebacker position and edge rushing group is now in quite a state of flux.
Veterans are key for Vikings on Sunday
It remains to be seen if Harrison Smith can go. He has been out with an undisclosed illness , and it sounds as though the hurdle now is conditioning. His presence on the back end of the defense would be a boost to the group and help to mitigate the cornerback situation.
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Minnesota Vikings center Ryan Kelly did go into the medical tent on Monday night, but he has no injury designation and will be good to go.
Ty Chandler was also placed on injured reserve earlier this week. Myles Price will have increased return duties. Undrafted rookie running back Zavier Scott could also see some action there.
Related: Kevin O'Connell Wasted No Time Delivering Legendary Message
The Vikings are set to square off against the Atlanta Falcons in a second-straight primetime game. J.J. McCarthy will battle against Michael Penix Jr. and look to best him as he did during the National Championship two years ago.
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