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Mike Zimmer Not Sure Who Will Start At Receiver Against Detroit

Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

After his seven-catch, 129-yard performance on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, the hype train for Minnesota Vikings' rookie wide receiver Stefon Diggs has picked up a lot of steam. However, it looks like someone might be trying to pull the brakes on it.

And that "someone" is none other than the Vikings' head coach himself.

According to Ben Goessling of ESPN.com, head coach Mike Zimmer has said that he's not sure whether Diggs or Charles Johnson will start across from Mike Wallace with the Vikings head to Ford Field to take on the Detroit Lions this coming Sunday.

Zimmer did, however, say this: "You don't lose your job because of injury; you lose your job because of performance."

Johnson was the subject of much hype this off-season after putting up some very good numbers down the stretch in 2014. However, because of injury and general ineffectiveness, he's put up just 46 yards on six catches so far in 2015. The biggest play he was a part of this season. . .a play against the San Diego Chargers that was whistled for defensive pass interference that netted the Vikings 34 yards. . .is apparently the play he got injured on, and he hasn't even suited up for the Vikings' past two contests.

Diggs, on the other hand, was first active for the game against Denver that Johnson missed, and has been active only twice this season. Despite that, he's already second on the team in receptions (13), receiving yards (216), and yards per catch (16.6). He also seems to have some really solid chemistry with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater at this point, which doesn't hurt.

If Johnson is going to be healthy enough to play. . .and, per Zimmer's logic, to start. . .in Detroit on Sunday, the Vikings are going to have a fairly pleasant dilemma at wide receiver. There's no real way they can justify keeping Diggs off the field at this point, and the guy that would (presumably) drop to #4 on the depth chart would be Jarius Wright, who just happens to be averaging over 20 yards per catch. Granted, Wright only has seven catches in the four games he's taken part in, but 20 yards per catch is still nothing to sneeze at.

Hopefully the return of Charles Johnson and the emergence of Stefon Diggs can help a passing attack that could use some assistance.

UPDATE: For the full context, here is the full question and answer, courtesy of a transcript of Zimmer's press conference today that was mailed out by the team.

Q: Do you see Diggs remaining as your starter or do you stick to the philosophy that you don't lose your starting job due to injury?
A: You don't lose your starting job because of injury, but you lose your starting job because of performance. But no, I have not decided that yet.