The Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints released their first injury reports in advance of their Sunday afternoon matchup at Caesar’s Superdome in New Orleans. Here they are.
Minnesota Vikings
New Orleans Saints
Injury Report Terms and Glossary
- FP = Full participant in practice.
- LP = Limited participant in practice.
- DNP = Did not participate in practice.
- NIR = Not injury related.
- PUP = Physically unable to participate list.
- IR = Injured reserve. Note: only starters on IR are listed.
- Player Name* = Starter.
Injury designation definitions:
Probable = the league defines a Probable injury designation as a 75% or greater chance of playing. Historically, 95% of players designated probable are active and played on game day.
Questionable = the league defines a Questionable injury designation as being ‘uncertain’ of whether the player
will play or not. This replaces the former definition of having a 50% chance of playing. Historically, 70-75% of players with a Questionable injury designation were active and played on game day.
Doubtful = The league defines a Doubtful injury designation to mean the player is unlikely to participate in the game. In practical terms, teams use the designation when a player has less than a 50% chance to suit up, and active game appearances from this designation remain rare. Historically only around 6% of players with a Doubtful designation are active and played on game day.
Out = will not play. Players with this designation are not active on game day and league rules prohibit them from playing.
Notes on Injured Players
For the Vikings, Jordan Addison did not participate for what Kevin O’Connell described as a minor hamstring injury, “if it is anything at all” so that doesn’t appear to be something that would cause him to miss Sunday’s game- but you never know.
Justin Jefferson was back at practice on a limited basis, which is encouraging. I don’t get the impression, based on Kevin O’Connell’s comments on Tuesday with Paul Allen, that the Vikings are looking to rush him back, however, with a bye-week following the Saints game. But his returning to practice on Wednesday would seem to open the possibility of Jefferson playing on Sunday.
Christian Darrisaw is in concussion protocol, so difficult to say if he’ll make it out in time to play Sunday or not. It didn’t seem like the worst hit I’ve ever seen, but you never know. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were cautious with him as well.
Kevin O’Connell said he expects Brett Thorson to return as punter/holder for the Saints game and his full status for Wednesday’s practice would seem to confirm that. The Vikings also released Johnny Hekker from the practice squad, which is another indication that Thorson will be back on Sunday.
Michael Jurgens and Ben Yurosek had their 21-day windows to return from injured reserve opened on Wednesday and the fact that both were full participants in practice is a good sign. However, whether they will be activated for Sunday’s game or not make come down to other roster considerations.
Lastly, Brian O’Neill is dealing with what appears to be a minor knee injury he is likely to play through.
For the Saints, Alvin Kamara not practicing due to back soreness following the Monday night game against the Falcons is something to monitor.
Lorenzo Styles and Jaylan Ford have been designated to return from IR and have their 21-day window opened, but unclear at this point whether they will be activated for Sunday’s game or not.
Saints starting QB Tyler Sough is dealing with a hand injury suffered on Monday night to his non-throwing left hand, so something that is not likely to keep him out of Sunday’s game.
The Saints also have three starters on IR which hurts.
Other than that, there is a long list but probably not of great consequence for Sunday’s game.
We’ll have two more updates tomorrow and Friday.
Stay tuned.
Follow me on X/Bluesky @wludford
