The Minnesota Vikings take on the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football, and injuries are forcing the front office into some surprising roster moves. Quarterback Kyler Murray and wide receiver Jauan Jennings were already ruled out, but the rest of the Vikings inactives tell a bigger story.

The full list on inactives are as follows:

• QB Kyler Murray
• WR Jauan Jennings
• DT Caleb Banks
• CB Charles Demmings
• S Theo Jackson
• S Jakobe Jackson

Caleb Banks inactive opens the door for Elijah Williams

Banks, the Vikings’ first-round pick, had his worst game of the year Sunday against the Detroit Lions. Detroit’s offensive line moved him off the ball more often than not in the run game, and it showed up on tape. He wasn’t the only reason why the run game struggled, but Banks was the worst offender.

Keeping him out of this game stands out for multiple reasons, but it isn’t worth panicking over just yet. He’s a rookie defensive tackle, and rough outings come with the territory, especially with his unique frame and circumstances.

The intrigue lies in Elijah Williams getting the call. Minnesota has been gashed on the ground the last couple of weeks, and Williams has yet to play a game this year. That’s despite strong showings in each of the last two training camps and solid play last year during the regular season in limited snaps. If the Vikings want a fresh body to help slow down the run, Williams has earned the opportunity to play. 

Wide receiver and safety depth face real questions

The other major storyline sits at wide receiver. Head coach Kevin O’Connell said Saturday that Jennings would miss the game, and the Vikings signed Odell Beckham Jr. to the active roster on Monday ahead of the matchup.

There are still questions about how the receiver rotation will be structured. However, calling up Tavierre Thomas from the practice squad eliminates the need to add another wide receiver to the active roster for special teams purposes. That’s a small move, but it frees up flexibility on game day.

Safety is where things get murky. Jakobe Thomas still has not been active for a game this season, and that streak continues against Buffalo. Jackson is out with a quad injury he suffered against the Lions, and he has not played well so far this season.

Jay Ward, who is questionable with a knee injury, will suit up. That leaves a question of whether it will be Ward or undrafted free agent Jacob Thomas who gets the lion’s share of snaps. How that workload gets divided will say a lot about where the staff’s trust sits in the back end.

Dion Dawkins’ absence is a major break for Minnesota

The Vikings did get good news on the other sideline. Bills starting left tackle Dion Dawkins will miss the game with a rib injury and left guard Alec Anderson will also not play. Dawkins did not practice all week and was listed as questionable before being ruled out.

That’s a huge development for Minnesota. The Vikings do a great job of generating pressure, and losing a starting left tackle forces Buffalo to lean on a backup against one of the more aggressive fronts in the league.

Dallas Turner stands to benefit the most. Without Dawkins across from him, Turner should have a much easier path to the quarterback, and this is the type of matchup where he can put together a statement performance.

With a backup quarterback, a reshuffled defensive interior, and question marks at safety, there’s a lot riding on how the Vikings respond. Whether Williams can plug the run game leaks and Turner can take advantage of a depleted Bills line could decide this game.