23.12.2024, 04:00 - hju - Rank 4 - 179 Posts
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Minnesota Vikings have had their share of major injuries this season, including to star receiver Justin Jefferson and quarterback Kirk Cousins.Injuries continue to mount as Minnesota tries to stay in the playoff picture.Coach Kevin OConnell announced Tuesday that tight end T.J. Hockenson and linebacker D.J. Wonnum will mi s the rest of the season.Hockenson sustained tears to the MCL and ACL in his knee after a defender dived at his knees on a tackle in Sundays 30-24 lo s to Detroit. Wonnum tore his quadriceps on a non-contact injury.ADVERTISEMENT Crushed for both of those guys. Two of Dallas Cowboys Women Jersey our most impactful players, leaders on our team, OConnell said. Two guys that will be difficult to overcome their lo s.Minnesota (7- has lost four of five and fell out of playoff position with Sundays lo s, in which Nick Mullens, the teams fourth quarterback of the season, threw four interceptions. The Vikings need to win their final two games and get help from either the Los Angeles Rams or Seattle Seahawks to make the playoffs.Losing Hockenson and Wonnum will make that task more difficult. OConnell said both players will be put on injured reserve.Hockenson leads the team with 95 catches and 960 receiving yards this season to go with five touchdowns. Wonnum is second on the team with eight sacks. He has 15 quarterback hits and seven tackles for lo s.Minnesota won the NFC North last season while avoiding major injuries to key players.Its been Dak Prescott Jersey different, OConnell said. You can say next man up all you want. You can talk about that mentality. We do kind of live by that mentality because we like to prepare all of our guys. ... We may lose some of our more impactful players and weve got to try and continue to go out there and play to win football games. And thats what this really whole years kind of been about.WHATS WORKINGIn his third game back from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for two months, Jefferson had six catches for 141 yards and a touchdown to lead an explosive group of receivers. Including Deion Sanders Jersey Hockenson, Minnesota had six players with at least a 23-yard reception on Sunday.The Vikings averaged 18.7 yards per reception as a team with K.J. Osborn adding five catches for 95 yards and a touchdown.WHAT NEEDS HELPAfter Ty Chandler stepped in for Alexander Mattison last week with 132 rushing yards Minnesotas first 100-yard rushing game of the season the running game took another step back.Chandler had 17 yards rushing on eight carries against Detroit. Mattison returned after mi sing one game with an ankle injury and had two carries for minus-1 yard.STOCK UPWonnum had become a strong counterpart to leading pa s rusher Danielle Hunter. Perhaps Pat Jones II is ready to step in. Jones had six tackles, three tackles for lo s and a Leighton Vander Esch Jersey sack in Sundays game.STOCK DOWNOConnell said the team is working through who will start at quarterback Sunday against Green Bay after Mullens had six turnovers while starting the past two games. Jaren Hall and Joshua Dobbs, who've each started since Cousins was lost for the season with a torn Achilles tendon, also are under consideration to start.INJUREDWR Jordan Addison (ankle) and CB Mekhi Blackmon (shoulder) left Sundays game. OConnell said both are feeling better and considered day-to-day to start the week of practice. ... OConnell also said he hopes to have RT Brian ONeill back this week. ONeill has mi sed the past two games with an ankle injury.KEY NUMBER21 Hunter leads the league with 21 tackles for lo s. That's in addition to his 15 1/2 sacks, Ezekiel Elliott Jersey which ranks third.NEXT STEPSTwo divisional games await, starting with a prime-time home game against Green Bay on New Years Eve. Minnesota finishes the season at NFC North champion Detroit, which might not have anything to play for.___AP NFL: Click here Click here Click here
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