News Vikings Team Notes

[Minnesota Vikings]

Minnesota Vikings Odds: Vikings Favored to Sweep Bears

The Minnesota Vikings are coming off of a tough loss in Week 10, but they’re being favored by the oddsmakers to bounce back this week and complete a season sweep of a division rival.

According to the FanDuel Sportsbook, the Vikings are a 2.5-point favorite over the Chicago Bears when the two teams meet this Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. The over/under for this one currently sits at 45.5 points.

Following their 27-19 loss to the Baltimore Ravens this past Sunday, the Vikings currently have a record of 4-5, putting them in last place in the NFC North and making them the only team in the division with a losing record. The Bears, following Green Bay’s loss on Monday night, have now jumped up to second place in the division with a record of 6-3.

These two teams met on Monday Night Football to being their regular seasons at Soldier Field. The Bears took a 17-6 lead into the fourth quarter, but the Vikings mounted a furious comeback behind quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who was making his first NFL start. McCarthy generated three fourth-quarter touchdowns, two through the air and one on the ground, and the Vikings held on for a 27-24 victory.

Sunday’s game is a pretty crucial one for the Vikings if they would like the competitive part of their season to continue. A loss would move the to 4-6, and with as closely bunched as the NFC appears to be this year, that might be too many losses to expect to make the postseason with. On the other hand, a win would get the Vikings back to .500, would put them at 3-0 in division play, and give them the head-to-head sweep over the Bears for the second consecutive season for potential tiebreaker purposes.

This game is going to be on the FOX family of networks this coming Sunday, starting at noon Central time, and is apparently getting the “America’s Game of the Week” treatment as FOX will reportedly be putting their #1 team of Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady in the booth.

Do you think the Vikings should be a favorite in this one, folks?

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/minne...a-vikings-odds-vikings-favored-to-sweep-bears

 

[Minnesota Vikings]

Bears at Vikings: First Injury Report

The Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears have issued their first injury reports in advance of Sunday’s game at US Bank Stadium. Here they are:

Minnesota Vikings​

• LT Christian Darrisaw, Knee, Full
• RG Will Fries, Calf, Limited
• OLB Jonathan Greenard, Shoulder, DNP
• S Theo Jackson, Concussion, Full
• RB Aaron Jones Sr., Shoulder/Toe, Limited
• C Ryan Kelly, Concussion, Limited
• QB J.J. McCarthy, Right Hand, Limited
• S Josh Metellus, Foot, Limited
• TE Josh Oliver, Foot, Limited
• OT Justin Skule, Shoulder, Limited
• S Harrison Smith, NIR/Rest, Limited
• OLB Andrew Van Ginkel, Neck, Limited

In his media session today, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said that Jonathan Greenard was the only one on the injury list that was questionable to play on Sunday against the Bears.

The Vikings have opened the 21-day window for starting center Ryan Kelly to return, although based on Kevin O’Connell’s comments he is probably more likely after the Bears game than for the Bears game. O’Connell said they would begin working Kelly back into practices this week after practicing on a side field last week. He also said that the veteran center is wearing a new helmet (presumably one better designed to prevent concussions for a center) along with the guardian cap, which is the padded exterior overlay that some players choose to wear during games, to further help prevent concussions. Kelly has suffered multiple concussions this season and multiple over his career prior to this year as well.

Chicago Bears​

• S Kevin Byard, NIR/Rest, DNP
• S Jaquan Brisker, Back, DNP
• LB T.J. Edwards, Hand/Hamstring, DNP
• DT Grady Jarrett, NIR/Rest, DNP
• WR D.J. Moore, Shoulder, DNP
• WR Rome Odunze, Ankle, DNP
• CB Tyrique Stevenson, Shoulder, DNP
• WR Jahdae Walker, Concussion, DNP
• TE Cole Kmet, Back, Limited
• DE Dominique Robinson, Ankle, LP
• RB D’Andre Swift, Hip, Limited
• CB Josh Blackwell, Concussion, Full
• LB Ruben Hyppolite II, Knee, Full

The Bears have a lengthy injury list to start the week, with eight players not practicing on Wednesday (although two were veteran days off). Five starters did not practice due to injury, and two more were limited. Having said that, I suspect most on the list will be available on Sunday. T.J. Edwards is more questionable as he’s dealing with a hamstring that could keep him out. It is believed he can still play with the hand injury with a cast.

Still, there are a number of starters to monitor the rest of the week, particularly Brisker and Stevenson, Odunze and Moore as the Bears are already thin at defensive back and their two starting receivers are key to their offense.

Stay tuned as we’ll have updates tomorrow and Friday.

Follow me on X/Bluesky @wludford

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/minnesota-vikings-injuries/92750/bears-at-vikings-first-injury-report