By Joseph Gunther
The Minnesota Vikings are set to get their middle linebacker back. Eric Kendricks missed the last two games due to a rib injury. The rookie second round draft pick was a full participant all week and should return to the starting lineup against the Green Bay Packers Sunday at TCF Bank Stadium.
Kendricks earned his first career start in Week 4 and recorded 27 tackles, four sacks and a pass defensed in four games before suffering the injury against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.
“I’m very excited to get back,” Kendricks said after Thursday’s practice. “I’m just going to keep doing what I do in the training room and keep practicing hard.”
Chad Greenway filled in for Kendricks and may have played his best football in several years. He recorded 18 tackles with Kendricks out after having just 10 the first eight games of the season.
The only player on the Vikings’ roster to miss any practice this week was Matt Kalil. Even though he was a non-participant in multiple practices, the Vikings do not expect their starting left tackle to miss Sunday’s game. Kalil has played 57 straight games in the regular season since entering the league in 2012 without missing a game. He has played through various nagging injuries that may or may not have contributed to his declining play over the last couple season.
“I assume so,” head coach Mike Zimmer said after Thursday’s practice. “You know I’m not going to say if they’re going to play or not. What do you want me to say? That they’re not going to play?.”
When pressed a little more about it, Zimmer said he “expects (Kalil) to play.”
Rookie seventh round draft pick Austin Shepherd filled in at left tackle with the first unit during this week’s practices with Kalil on the sideline. Jeremiah Sirles played the position on the second unit.
The Vikings do not have any concerning injuries on the report this week. They had three players begin the week as limited participants and were full participants one day later.
Defensive end Justin Trattou has been inactive since suffering a foot injury in Week 2 against the Detroit Lions. He was playing very well as the top reserve behind Everson Griffen at right end before the injury; but even though he has been a full participant in practices over the last couple weeks, his playing time may be decreasing due to the emergence of rookie third round draft pick Danielle Hunter. Second-year defensive end Scott Crichton has also picked up his play as the top reserve on the other side, which will also hurt Trattou’s playing time.
The Packers list 15 players on their injury report. They are wide receiver Jared Abbrederis (rib/chest), offensive tackle David Bakhtiari (knee), offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga (knee), safety Morgan Burnett (ankle), linebacker Jayrone Elliott (ankle), defensive back Micah Hyde (hip), wide receiver James Jones (quadriceps), running back Eddie Lacy (groin), guard T.J. Lang (shoulder), linebacker Clay Matthews (ankle/knee), wide receiver Ty Montgomery (ankle), linebacker Mike Neal (hip), linebacker Nick Perry (shoulder/hand), quarterback Aaron Rodgers (right shoulder) and guard Josh Sitton (knee).
Probable:
Matt Asiata, running back (quadriceps)
Anthony Barr, linebacker (hand/knee)
Teddy Bridgewater, quarterback (left shoulder)
Sharrif Floyd, defensive tackle (knee/ankle)
Tom Johnson, defensive tackle (concussion)
Eric Kendricks, linebacker (ribs)
Adrian Peterson, running back (hamstring)
Marcus Sherels, cornerback (shoulder)
Adam Thielen, wide receiver (shoulder)
Justin Trattou, defensive end (foot)
Questionable:
Robert Blanton, safety (back)
Matt Kalil, offensive tackle (toe)
Joseph Gunther is an avid fan of Minnesota sports, including football, hockey and baseball. He covered a wide variety of sports while attending Hastings College in Hastings, Neb. While at Hastings College, he was a part of the first collegiate media group to broadcast a national tournament via television, radio, internet and newspaper at the 2004 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball Tournament. He grew up in the Twin Cities playing three years of varsity football in high school. Joseph is a freelance writer covering all things NFL. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
