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In less than 24 hours, one preseason playoff contender from the NFC North will be at 0-2 after the Minnesota Vikings host the Detroit Lions. Both teams got off to disappointing starts in Week 1. . .Detroit by blowing a huge lead against Minnesota's opponent in Week 3, the San Diego Chargers, and the Vikings by not even bothering to show up on Monday night against the San Francisco 49ers. Neither of these teams can afford to get into an 0-2 hole, obviously, so this matchup is going to be a biggie.
Now's the time we take a look at the final injury reports for both of these teams, and we'll start with the visitors, as we generally do.
Detroit Lions
Player | Position | Injury | Sunday Status |
Brandon Pettigrew | TE | Hamstring | Out |
DeAndre Levy | LB | Hip |
|
Haloti Ngata | DT | Shoulder | Questionable |
Caraun Reid | DT | Ankle | Questionable |
Darius Slay | CB | Ankle | Probable |
Matthew Stafford | QB | Right arm | Probable |
Golden Tate | WR | Quadriceps | Probable |
LaAdrian Waddle | OT | Elbow | Probable |
Larry Warford | G | Ankle | Probable |
Levy potentially being out is a pretty significant blow to the Lions' defense. He's one of the NFL's truly underrated defenders and a big piece of the Detroit front seven. But he hasn't practiced all week, so I'd be surprised to see him out there tomorrow. Ngata was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday after not participating on Wednesday, and Reid was limited in practice all week. Tate was also out of Wednesday's practice and a limited participant on both Thursday and Friday. Stafford took a shot to the arm in the Lions' game last week, but has fully participated in practice all week, so he'll be out there.
UPDATE: According to the Detroit Free Press, Levy is indeed OUT this Sunday.
And now, the injury report for the home team. . .you'll note that, for now, it's significantly shorter.
Minnesota Vikings
Player | Position | Injury | Sunday Status |
Jerick McKinnon | RB | Ankle | Probable |
Shamar Stephen | DT | Knee | Probable |
That's it. That's the list. Both McKinnon and Stephen have been full participants in practice all week, so there's no reason to think they won't both be active tomorrow afternoon. Really, there's not a whole lot else to add here, so I won't.
And that's a full accounting of all the bumps and bruises going into the second game of the 2015 NFL season, ladies and gentlemen. We'll have the Open Thread up and ready approximately an hour before kickoff, as we usually do.