Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions: Final injury reports for both teams

It’s Friday, and as we all know that means it’s injury report day across the National Football League. Both the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions have released their final injury reports for the purple’s last road game of the 2018 (regular) season at Ford Field this Sunday. Let’s take a look at those here, starting as usual with the road team.

Only one player for the Vikings has been given any sort of injury designation at all, but he’s an important one. Starting linebacker Eric Kendricks was once again held out of practice on Friday, and after not practicing all week has officially been declared as “out” for Sunday’s game in Detroit. I expect we’ll see a lot of Eric Wilson in Kendricks’ place, and likely some Ben Gedeon mixed in as well.

Other than that, no member of the Vikings is even listed as “questionable” this week. Both wide receiver Chad Beebe and tight end David Morgan were full participants in practice for the first time since they sustained their respective injuries (they had been limited in their participation prior to now), and will both be available on Sunday. Defensive tackle Linval Joseph was also not given an injury designation, even after being held out of practice on Thursday with a knee issue and being limited in practice on Friday.

Now, let’s move on to the home team.

There are a couple of pretty significant names for the Lions on their report, one for each side of the ball. The biggest name, obviously, is that of quarterback Matthew Stafford, who was limited in practice all week with a back injury and has been listed as “questionable.” I’d be pretty stunned if the Lions decided that Stafford couldn’t go on Sunday, but in the event that he doesn’t, the Vikings would then be facing off against their old friend, Matt Cassel. A backup quarterback taking on the Vikings in a game that Minnesota absolutely needs to win? What’s the worst that could happen there?

Also, defensive tackle Damon Harrison. . .you can call him “Snacks”. . .is listed as questionable for the Lions with a knee issue. The Lions’ run defense was downright awful before they made the trade to acquire Harrison, and was actually pretty solid with him in there. If he’s on the sideline on Sunday, given the Vikings’ recommitment to the run game, it could mean big things for Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray again on Sunday.

That’s a look at the final injury reports for both sides, ladies and gentlemen. Keep your browser pointed right here for more coverage of this weekend’s game leading up to kickoff.