Vikings slot cornerback Mackensie Alexander will not play in Minnesota’s playoff game at San Francisco Saturday afternoon. Instead, Alexander will be recovering from arthroscopic surgery to fix a meniscus tear in his knee, according to multiple reports.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that the procedure doesn’t necessarily mean Alexander’s season is over. If the Vikings beat the 49ers, there’s a chance he could play at a later stage of the postseason, be it the NFC title game or, dare we say, the Super Bowl.
#Vikings CB Mackensie Alexander will have arthroscopic surgery for the small tear in his lateral meniscus, source said. Won’t play Saturday against the #49ers, but season not necessarily over if Minnesota can advance. Another challenge for Mike Zimmer’s defense.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 7, 2020
The 26-year-old former Clemson Tiger has one interception in 13 games this season.
It’ll be the second straight week without Alexander and Mike Hughes, who was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury. The Vikings used safety Andrew Sendejo as a nickel cornerback against the Saints while youngsters Holton Hill and Kris Boyd saw action along with veterans Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes.
The Vikings and 49ers kick off at 3:35 p.m. CT Saturday at Levi’s Stadium.
