Vikings Injury Report: With Half-A-Dozen Players Battling Injuries, Kirk Cousins & Kevin O’Connell Aim to Arrest the Slide

Going into week 4, the Minnesota Vikings looked to be on their last legs. The Vikings have declared the longest injury report of the 2023 season yet. The moment when the Vikings are in desperate need of a victory, a lot of their players have either been marked for the veteran rest, injured, or on questionable terms. This is a major setback, as they’ll be facing their next challenge on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. So all the burden lies on the shoulders of the head coach, Kevin O’Connell and star quarterback, Kirk Cousins.

On Wednesday afternoon, O’Connell presented the fans with the list of the players that would not join the Thursday practice ahead of the ‘Sunday Night Football’. The fans are still hoping that the secondary lineups to lead the Vikings toward redemption. However, not everything’s in vain, as the report also suggested some upgradation of the defensive lineups in the team.

Six Vikings are expected to be on the bench against the Panthers

As reported by the Vikings coach, at least half of a dozen players will not be putting on their jerseys this Sunday. The team will yet again face the disadvantage of having less manpower on the field. Injuries during games are normal, but the recent list of names is causing frustration.

Read More: Whose NFL Record Is More Shocking, 0–3 Broncos or 0–3 Vikings

The first name on the list is center Garrett Bradbury, who has been missing the past 11 quarters due to his back injury. However, he apparently showed up at the Wednesday practice, as already predicted by the head coach. Also, Harrison Phillips and Harrison Smith aren’t injured but will be on their veteran rest days. Besides, this the three defensive players that were previously DNPs were upgraded to limited practice.

Byron Murphy Jr. (hip injury), Josh Metellus (shoulder injury), and Marcus Davenport (ankle injury) were put to limited practice on Thursday, however, all three of them didn’t show up for Wednesday practice. Among these three, Davenport has played over four snaps in three games, and in spite of his current injury, he’s expected the most to be present at the Charlotte. It’s also safe to say that the defensive lineup is also looking forward to his return.

Brian Flores wants to see Marcus Davenport back on the field

Since the beginning of the season, it has been a hassle for Davenport to participate in the Vikings games due to his tricky ankle. He couldn’t even face the Philadelphia Eagles in the Week 2 game. The defensive coordinator of the team, Brian Flores, has spoken words of praise for the defensive end. He talked about the magic he holds in the team due to his presence.

Flores said, “He brings an element of size, speed, physicality that would help any team. He would bring an element that we need of pass rush and physicality in the run game and things of that nature. When we get him back, nobody will be happier than me.” So, this Sunday, the fans would be anticipating the entry of Marcus Davenport with his team.

The 0-3 Vikings are going to face the only 0-3 record-holding team of the NFC South, the Carolina Panthers. What do you think about this? Let us know your thoughts about this matchup.

Watch This Story: “Without Kevin Durant, LeBron (James) Got Steph in His Backpocket”: ex-Teammates Give Lakers Superstar an Upper Edge For the 5th Ring