8 hours ago
(This post was last modified: 8 hours ago by purplefaithful.)
Receiver Jalen Nailor will play in Chicago after recovering from a fractured left hand suffered Aug. 14 in a joint practice with New England.
The Vikings defense will likely not have safety Harrison Smith for Monday night’s season opener in Chicago. He’s officially listed doubtful to play due to an illness that has affected him for nearly a month.
Smith, the 36-year-old team captain entering his 14th Vikings season, returned to meetings and walkthroughs this week. The team has described his ailment as a personal health matter; it has kept him out since at least Aug. 11. Smith was limited during Saturday’s practice: a final, light session before the team departs for Chicago on Sunday.
Smith needs more practice time to be physically ready for a game, coach Kevin O’Connell said.
“He probably did a little more than I expected, which was really encouraging,” O’Connell said of Saturday’s practice. “It’s just a matter of time back on the grass.”
Defensive coordinator Brian Flores said nobody can replicate Smith’s varied roles and responsibilities in the defense. Safety Theo Jackson is expected to replace Smith in the starting lineup.
“Not to say we don’t have other highly intelligent, high-football-IQ guys,” Flores said, but “there’s a lot of reasons it’s unique to him: 14 years in the league, playing at a high level, just high-level acumen.”
Left tackle Christian Darrisaw is listed questionable after taking every rep in Saturday’s practice. He’s about 10½ months removed from the season-ending left knee injury suffered in Los Angeles last year. Tackle Justin Skule is up next if Darrisaw does not play.
“I thought there were some great moments throughout the week,” O’Connell said of Darrisaw’s practices. “This guy’s done everything in his power to give himself an opportunity for that conversation. ... We’ll see how he feels [Sunday].”
STRIB
Vikes are keeping Chi guessing if CD will play or not...
The Vikings defense will likely not have safety Harrison Smith for Monday night’s season opener in Chicago. He’s officially listed doubtful to play due to an illness that has affected him for nearly a month.
Smith, the 36-year-old team captain entering his 14th Vikings season, returned to meetings and walkthroughs this week. The team has described his ailment as a personal health matter; it has kept him out since at least Aug. 11. Smith was limited during Saturday’s practice: a final, light session before the team departs for Chicago on Sunday.
Smith needs more practice time to be physically ready for a game, coach Kevin O’Connell said.
“He probably did a little more than I expected, which was really encouraging,” O’Connell said of Saturday’s practice. “It’s just a matter of time back on the grass.”
Defensive coordinator Brian Flores said nobody can replicate Smith’s varied roles and responsibilities in the defense. Safety Theo Jackson is expected to replace Smith in the starting lineup.
“Not to say we don’t have other highly intelligent, high-football-IQ guys,” Flores said, but “there’s a lot of reasons it’s unique to him: 14 years in the league, playing at a high level, just high-level acumen.”
Left tackle Christian Darrisaw is listed questionable after taking every rep in Saturday’s practice. He’s about 10½ months removed from the season-ending left knee injury suffered in Los Angeles last year. Tackle Justin Skule is up next if Darrisaw does not play.
“I thought there were some great moments throughout the week,” O’Connell said of Darrisaw’s practices. “This guy’s done everything in his power to give himself an opportunity for that conversation. ... We’ll see how he feels [Sunday].”
STRIB
Vikes are keeping Chi guessing if CD will play or not...
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