The Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns have issued their first injury reports of the week in advance of their Sunday morning, Central Time, matchup in London. Here they are:
Minnesota Vikings
- LT Christian Darrisaw, Vet Rest Day, DNP
- LG Donovan Jackson, Wrist, DNP
- C Michael Jurgens, Hamstring, DNP
- C Ryan Kelly, Concussion, DNP
- QB J.J. McCarthy, Ankle, DNP
- RT Brian O’Neill, Knee, DNP
- OLB Andrew Van Ginkel, Neck, DNP
- TE Ben Yurosek, Knee, DNP
- OLB Tyler Batty, Knee, FP
- FB C.J. Ham, Knee, FP
- RB Zavier Scott, Knee, FP
For the Vikings, it’s never good when four of five starting offensive linemen did not practice, not to mention both starting and backup center. The good news is it was just a veteran rest day for left tackle Christian Darrisaw. The bad news is that starters Donovan Jackson, Brian O’Neill are already out for this game and Ryan Kelly most likely is too. Backup center Michael Jurgens is dealing with a hamstring injury, which casts some doubt on his availability on Sunday. If Jurgens can’t go, Blake Brandel would move to center and Joe Huber would start at left guard. Brandel has never played center and it would be Huber’s first start. Justin Skule will start for the injured Brian O’Neill and I wouldn’t be surprised if Browns’ star edge rusher Myles Garrett moves over to the left side to take advantage of that matchup rather than face off against Christian Darrisaw.
In any case, the Vikings on a lot of injury fronts but particularly offensive line, are just trying to make it through this game- hopefully with a win- and get to their bye week and a chance to get several starters back from injury.
Andrew Van Ginkel also did not practice and I believe Kevin O’Connell has also ruled him out for the Browns game so he can hopefully fully recover from his neck injury and start again after the bye week. Not sure the nature of Ben Yurosek’s knee injury, but that has kept him out for a couple weeks now and I would be surprised if he is active on Sunday as well.
On the positive side, the 21-day window to return from IR has been opened for both Tyler Batty and C.J. Ham, and the fact that they were both listed as full participants suggests they could return from IR for Sunday’s game.
Cleveland Browns
- DE Myles Garrett, Ankle, DNP
- RT Jack Conklin, Elbow, Limited
- LG Joel Bitonio, Vet Rest Day, Limited
- DT Maliek Collins, Vet Rest Day, Limited
- S Grant Delpit, Back, Limited
- DT Mike Hall Jr., Knee, Limited
- RT Cornelius Lucas, Vet Rest Day, Limited
- TE David Njoku, Knee, Limited
The Browns’ injury list is not as extensive as the Vikings’, but it includes their best player in Myles Garrett, who did not practice with an ankle injury he suffered during the Lions’ game last weekend. Starting right tackle Jack Conklin has missed a few weeks with an elbow injury. He was limited all last week as well and had a questionable designation for the Lions game but didn’t play. Mike Hall was limited on the last two practices ahead of the Lions game as well with a knee injury and was ruled out.
My guess is that the Browns will have most or all of the above players active for Sunday’s game. The two key players to watch are Garrett and Conklin, however. Browns’ head coach Kevin Stefanski has said both Garrett and Conklin are, “day-to-day” so we’ll see what clues the rest of the week may bring in terms of their availability for Sunday’s game.
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