We are less than 48 hours away from kickoff between the Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers. Because of how brutally the Vikings mopped up the New York Giants last weekend, this almost feels like week one all over again.
The rest of the NFL is now looking at the Vikings like, ‘okay, but now you have to play an actual team’. Funny how quickly the narrative turns from “any given Sunday” and “a league with so much parity” to a road win in New York doesn’t count toward your unofficial win/loss record… but I digress.
That’s the life we are living, as Minnesota Vikings fans. And if that narrative is going to change anytime soon, they’ll have to beat the defending Super Bowl runner-up Niners, on Sunday. To do that, they will need as many healthy horses in the race, as possible. As of Thursday, that didn’t look like a very promising proposition .
New Minnesota Vikings injury update brings good news… except Jordan Addison
Not only was Jordan Addison listed as “DNP” on yesterday’s injury report , along with a “Limited” Andrew Van Ginkel and “Limited” Garrett Bradbury , who both landed there Wednesday, but Harrison Smith was a surprise “DNP”, and Brian O’Neill made his first appearance, as “Limited”.
Friday’s final Minnesota Vikings injury report brought more good news than Thursday’s. Every player listed above, outside of Jordan Addison, practiced today. However, they aren’t out of the woods just yet. Brian O’Neill and Harrison Smith are both questionable. So is Ed Ingram, who made his debut on the injury report, Friday, with a tricep. Addison is officially out.
Most national pundits, and many locally, have written off the Vikings’ week one victory as a product of New York’s futility, not what we saw with our own eyes. But it’s okay to call out what we saw. Say it out loud. Don’t let the haters shout you down. The Minnesota Vikings looked like a really good football team, last weekend. Period.
Time for Vikings to prove doubters wrong
On offense, we watched our new 1st round “bust” quarterback look more like a 1st round gem . Our “over-the-hill” running back cut through the Giants’ defense, like a knife cuts through butter, immediately after it’s been through the “Heated Dry” cycle on your dishwasher.
Related: Old Friend Picks Vikings to Beat 49ers
Oh, and Brian Flores’ completely turned-over defense scored more points (7) than it allowed (6). This week, it looks like the Vikings’ mad scientist DC will have his full complement of weapons at his disposal.
Not having Jordan Addison will hurt, but as long as Justin Jefferson is healthy, the Vikings have an advantage out-wide. With Brian O’Neill and Garrett Bradbury are good to go, and Aaron Jones looking like his healthy self, Minnesota can beat anyone, if they play well.
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