Vikings receive excellent news ahead of Packers matchup
The Minnesota Vikings are doing everything possible to keep its slim playoff hopes alive as the team heads into a make-or-break game against the rival Green Bay Packers.The team continues to battle the injury bug, as star tight end T.J. Hockenson and ascending pass rusher D.J. Wonnum the latest Vikings are the latest players to […]
The Minnesota Vikings are doing everything possible to keep its slim playoff hopes alive as the team heads into a make-or-break game against the rival Green Bay Packers.
The team continues to battle the injury bug, as star tight end T.J. Hockenson and ascending pass rusher D.J. Wonnum the latest Vikings are the latest players to succumb to the injury bug. Both players suffered season-ending injuries against the Detroit Lions in Week 16, leaving giant holes on both sides of the ball.
Rookie sensation, Jordan Addison, had to leave last week's game early because of an ankle injury and even his status for the Packers game was in question, all week long.
But, fortunately for the Vikings and new quarterback, Jaren Hall, Addison is expected to play on Sunday Night Football, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Packers secondary is reeling ahead of showdown
This is big for a couple of reasons. Primarily for the offense. The Packers are obviously going to do everything they can to stop Justin Jefferson from making plays. K.J. Osborn is a solid option, but adding Addison into the equation takes things up a few notches. Especially without Hockenson on the field – Jefferson needs a threat to keep the heat off him.
And, secondly, the Packers secondary will be without its two starting cornerbacks in Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes. This also comes after the team traded away Rasul Douglas before the trade deadline in October.
Alexander was suspended for sneaking onto the field for the coin toss, calling the toss, and then almost screwing up the subsequent decision of whether or not the Packers wanted to receive the ball or defer to the second half. Alexander said Green Bay wanted "to start on defense", which is not the correct language. If things weren't corrected, he would've given the Carolina Panthers an extra possession in what turned out to be a 33-30 Packers win.
“That was a big mistake,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur after the game. “That’s something that you review with the guys before they go out there every time about, ‘Hey, we win the toss, we’re going to defer.’ I went to the officials before the game [and] made sure they knew what we were going to do. We had an incident earlier this year where we had a similar situation, so [I'm] always trying to be proactive in that approach.”
Stokes, on the other hand, is back on IR with a hamstring injury. He's been trying to battle back from knee and foot injuries that cost him the 2022 season and has tacked on extra injuries, along the way.
So, Addison and Jefferson will face rookie seventh-rounder, Carrington Valentine and backup, Corey Ballentine, for most of the day. Those two are obviously way more enticing matchups than the duo of Alexander and Stokes.
At this point in the season, teams will take any advantage they can get and Addison's presence will certainly go a long way in helping the Vikings beat the Packers.
