A week of rest for a bunch of key players appears to have proved very beneficial for the Vikings as they prepare to face the Saints in Sunday’s playoff game at Mercedez-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
After practicing Wednesday, this is what Minnesota’s injury report looked like.
- LB Eric Kendricks (quadriceps) – did not practice
- CB Mackensie Alexander (knee) – did not practice
- DE Stephen Weatherly (illness) – did not practice
- S Andrew Sendejo (illness) – did not practice
- DL Ifeadi Odenigbo (hamstring) – limited
Those are the players whose statuses are most up in the air, although the Vikings got great news as running backs Dalvin Cook (shoulder) and Alexander Mattison (ankle), cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes (ankle) and Mike Hughes (neck), safety Jayron Kearse (foot), defensive tackle Shamar Stephen (knee) were all full practice participants.
“I think so,” said head coach Mike Zimmer when asked if linebacker Eric Kendricks will be able to play.
Side note: Don’t ask Zimmer about the “Minneapolis Miracle.”
“Come on, man. We’re concentrating on the Saints this week, we don’t care about three years ago or whatever it was,” Zimmer said when asked what he feels when he thinks back to the 2017 miracle finish over the Saints.
