Vikings vs Birdies

[StickierBuns]

Not having Darrisaw again and losing Gink this week will be tough.

F-cking Justin Skule again....argh. Time for Dallas to be a playmaker.

[purplefaithful]

Not having Darrisaw again and losing Gink this week will be tough.

Looks like Okudah too?

Turner and Skule are going to have to step-up at home.

[Bullazin]

After game one I would say the Vikings have two glaring weaknesses. One weakness will be resolved when Darrisaw returns. The other weakness is the defensive backfield. Lot of wide open receivers on Monday the QB couldn't hit. Penix should be more accurate. Hopefully the front seven will get enough pressure to help the back end out. Murphy is a good corner but not a great cover guy. Rodgers looked good. Okudah not so much. If he is out due to concussion, it may be addition by subtraction, unless they replace him with Moreau. I would rather see nudie get a chance.
If Darrisaw is back I would say the Vikings win 28 to 19. If not, they win 24 to 21.

Agreed, we cannot afford to have Bijan running loose at the boundaries like the bears backs did. Otherwise I thought the secondary was fine. Gonna be interesting to see what changes Bflo employs.  

I think it’s understandable that Caleb wiggled loose from our rush multiple times, he can be elusive in tight spaces.  I don’t think Penix is on that level. I think our rush thrives and gets home more this weekend

[JR44]

Losing Van Ginkel is huge, I think he is by far our most impactful defensive players, he was creating havoc all game last week. Also really hurts not to have Darrisaw back, so much for it was just about the turf last week.

This is why it is just crazy to have just 4 CBs on the roster. We have 3 now on the PS since we just picked up someone this week, but you really can't count on those guys not getting picked off the PS. Guessing Moreau will get the nod over Vaughn to be added for Sunday.

Time for Turner to show he was worth giving up half our draft for. I have a feeling someone like Richter or Murphy will make more of an impact.

[purplefaithful]

With Andrew Van Ginkel out, Vikings’ Dallas Turner will make first NFL start vs. Falcons


Vikings edge rusher and team captain Jonathan Greenard has been telling anyone who will listen that edge rusher Dallas Turner, a 2024 first-round pick, is going to be a standout player in the NFL.

Turner will get his biggest turn on stage Sunday night against the Falcons. He’s expected to make his first NFL start with outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel ruled out due to a concussion suffered Monday night in Chicago.

Greenard pointed to one area of Turner’s game that popped from the team’s film review session off the Bears game.

“He was playing the run really well,” Greenard told the Minnesota Star Tribune. “That was the main thing we wanted him to do. ... He was shocking guys, getting off the ball and making tackles; explosive, just giving that good juice and energy.”

Defensive coordinator Brian Flores said he emerged from the 27-24 win over the Bears thinking Turner should’ve played more. Turner played 29 of 67 snaps (43%), which is around his career high of 51% during his first NFL game last year.

Starting will be “a lot more responsibility,” Turner said, but he feels better prepared for this moment than if it had come a year ago.

“Felt much more comfortable with a year under my belt in the same system,” Turner said. “Emphasizing what’s important in what we run on defense, basically our roles as outside linebackers.”

Flores did not hesitate when asked his confidence level in Turner.

“Very high,” Flores said. “I thought he played very well last week. When I looked back and saw the snap counts, I was — not miffed — but I thought he played more and thought we should’ve got him in more. ... He’s taken a lot of steps forward.”

Coach Kevin O’Connell said Turner’s playing time should increase moving forward regardless of Van Ginkel’s availability.

“The jump that he is currently experiencing and will continue to experience will be highlighted clearly with Gink being out,” O’Connell said, “but we have viewed it from Day 1 as three potential starters” between Greenard, Van Ginkel and Turner.

Strib

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Darrisaw, Okudah out; Smith questionable

Left tackle Christian Darrisaw and cornerback Jeff Okudah have been ruled out for Sunday night against Atlanta.

Darrisaw did not have a setback, O’Connell clarified, because he had been listed as questionable to play last week against the Bears.

O’Connell said that was only to allow Darrisaw to get his roughly 30-minute field workout before kickoff, which would not have been allowed if he had been ruled out.

Darrisaw will miss his second straight game to begin the season while he’s about 10½ months into his recovery from two torn ligaments in his left knee. Darrisaw said he still has “room for improvement” in his surgically-repaired knee.

“Just being in that environment, especially being on the road,” Darrisaw said. “I haven’t played in a game since October last year. It’s been a while since I’ve been in a stadium and that type of atmosphere. It definitely helped, but I’ve still got room for improvement in my knee.”

Okudah, who played 16 snaps in Chicago, suffered a concussion on the last play of the game. He returned to practice Friday on a limited basis, but will not play Sunday. The Vikings defense will also be without starting inside linebacker Blake Cashman, who was put on injured reserve Thursday. Running back Ty Chandler is out with a knee injury, also on IR.

Safety Harrison Smith is listed questionable after three consecutive limited practices this week. Smith has said conditioning is what’s keeping him from returning. He did not return to practice until Sept. 6 from a personal health matter that first led to him stepping away during training camp about a month ago.

For the Falcons, receiver Drake London (shoulder) has been cleared to play after limited practices this week. Receiver Darnell Mooney (shoulder) will also play after missing Atlanta’s Week 1 loss to Tampa Bay.

Strib

[Mattyman]

Last week it was Jj that went off

It'd be epic if it was Turner this week

[MAD GAINZ]

I did notice Turner stack, shed, and make a couple tackles on the edge in the run game. If he's a complete player now, watch out...

[StickierBuns]

This is nuts to deal with if you are JJM: first game ever in the NFL on the road in Chicago on MNF, son born on Thursday of the next week and he has to prepare for ANOTHER prime time game in his big home debut where the fans are going to be nuts for him. Enough on a 22 year old kid's plate?? This is all in a 6 day period.

If this kid play's decently tomorrow, its pretty unbelievable. Movie-like.

[JR44]

This is nuts to deal with if you are JJM: first game ever in the NFL on the road in Chicago on MNF, son born on Thursday of the next week and he has to prepare for ANOTHER prime time game in his big home debut where the fans are going to be nuts for him. Enough on a 22 year old kid's plate?? This is all in a 6 day period.

If this kid play's decently tomorrow, its pretty unbelievable. Movie-like.

Agree, I have been wondering how. a 22 year old could possibly balances all of this right now.  There is not a lot of time for NFL teams to prepare for the next game, usually Wednesday through Friday are you main practices so missing one of those days would be significant for a first year QB.  On top of that he is dealing with the whirlwind of having a kid, bringing him home and now living with a new born.  And you have all this attention on you of being player of the week, an amazing comeback and now your first home game on national TV.  

You are right all movie-like.  To me, it all feels like complete overwhelm and don't see how he can not be negatively affected by it all in terms of his performance Sunday, however for him, this could just be completely regular life, he is not the typical 22 year old, wise beyond his years, an old soul and all of this may be just the way he experiences life and the way he expects things to be.  64-3 since high school, two high school state championships and a national championship, a college national championship under the biggest lights.  All of this could just be just be something he takes in stride and he shows up Sunday and does what he does best on the field.  Would be amazing if he plays great, but for him what he expects.

[purplefaithful]

Time for the top of the 24 draft to shine eh?!

I'm still processing the injury list this week, those are some key players out. ATL is healthy and got their WR's back this week to go with their all world RB.

No weeks are easy, but this one has me a little uneasy. I honestly felt better about the opener.