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Talented MN Vikings Defender OUT vs Bears
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- Talented MN Vikings Defender OUT vs Bears
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings are looking to save their season on Sunday afternoon against the Chicago Bears . In order to get it done, they'll have to halt the momentum of a Caleb Williams led squad that has won six of their last seven games.
In week 11 , the MN Vikings are focused No. 1 on stopping Bears quarterback Caleb Williams from taking over the game Sunday, like he nearly did week one, if not for JJ McCarthy's miraculous fourth quarter comeback at Soldier Field, one of a few bright spots the redshirt rookie has enjoyed in 2025.
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Minnesota Vikings down an OLB again
During the season opener, when these two teams met for the first time, Minnesota struggled to corral Williams even with both stud outside linebackers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel on the field.
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On Sunday, unfortunately, they'll have to find a way to slow the 2024 No. 1 overall pick without Greenard, who missed his third-straight practice of the week Friday, before he was officially ruled out on the Vikings final week 11 injury report.
Final #CHIvsMIN injury report
OUT: Jonathan Greenard and Ryan Kelly*
*Currently in 21-day practice window pic.twitter.com/mC61cSdtqq— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 14, 2025
Related: MN Vikings Superstar Calls on Year 3 Jets to Return
Beyond Ryan Kelly and the aforementioned Greenard, the Vikings are looking a lot healthier than their early-week injury report would have foretold. That means JJ McCarthy was able to practice in full today with his injured hand. That's good because nobody needs a rebound performance more desperately than he does.
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Thankfully, Minnesota's offense that has the easier task this weekend against the Bears. Offensively, this should be one of the Vikings' easier tasks in recent weeks. Chicago ranks near the bottom of the NFL defensively, allowing the 6th most yards against and 5th most points against this season, among all 32 teams.
Not just to beat the Chicago Bears this weekend , but if the MN Vikings are going to have any realistic shot at climbing back into a stacked NFC playoff picture. Head coach Kevin O'Connell will have to play-call better too.
Minnesota Vikings could get right vs shoddy Bears defense?
More notably, the Bears have been at their worst against the pass, where teams have piled up 2.2 touchdowns per game through the air, 4th most in the league. They've also allowed the 7th most pass yards of any NFL defense this season, at 240.3 YPG.
Hey guys so I miss when the Chicago Bears had a good defense
— Maddie (@baddiemaddie43) November 9, 2025
Of course, that doesn't mean McCarthy will suddenly morph into his idol Tom Brady Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. He should look a lot better than he did last week though. If he doesn't then the fallout from that is worth its own article.
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But even if McCarthy & Co. do get right against the Chicago Bears, it'll be up to a now-depleted Minnesota Vikings defense to keep a surging Chicago offense down well enough for the offense to keep up. Remember, only one team is still trying to take the training wheels off of its 2024 first round QB.
Can they do that without Greenard like they haven't been able to this season without Van Ginkel or Blake Cashman , when they have been out with injury? I guess we will soon find out.
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