Since we're getting close to kickoff time here, and we haven't done one yet leading up to this one, let's take a look at the final injury reports for the Minnesota Vikings and the Carolina Panthers, shall we?
Because we start with the visitors, here is the Vikings' injury report first.
Wow. . .that's a whole lot of people on the "probable" portion of the injury report for the Vikings, isn't it? They didn't even list Chris Cook, because I suspect that "having Lady Justice's foot up your butt" doesn't qualify as an injury. Also not listed on the injury report is guard Anthony Herrera, who will miss this week's game after injuring his knee last week. Joe Berger will likely start in his place. Sullivan, Sanford and Abdullah both fully participated in practice all week, so I would be surprised if they're not out there this week.
It sounds like Booker is likely out for this one, while Harvin is in, and Harvin will likely return kicks with Booker out of the lineup. The big one is going to be Antoine Winfield. He's been a limited participant in practice all week, and the Vikings certainly could use him.
Nobody else listed on the report for the Vikings is in serious danger of missing today's game, from everything I've been able to ascertain.
Now, the injury report for the homestanding Carolina Panthers.
Yeah, you could say that Cam Newton has an illness, because that dude is sick.
According to the Panthers' team website, both Newton and Gaither were full participants in practice on Friday, so they're both going to be out there. Darius Butler is also listed by the Panthers' website as questionable with something "non-injury related," and Pugh hasn't practiced all week, so it's doubtful that he plays. Other than that, the Carolina Panthers are a pretty healthy football team for the halfway point of the season.
And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. We're about three hours from kickoff, so we hope you'll be here to join us!