Vikings/Rams early injury reports: Big names hurt on both sides

With both teams getting ready for Thursday Night Football, we’re getting injury reports for both the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Rams earlier than we would normally get them. From the looks of things right now, both sides could be missing some pretty significant players.

For the Vikings, starting left tackle Riley Reiff did not practice for the Vikings on Tuesday. If Reiff can’t go for the Vikings, they suddenly have a huge problem on the offensive line against one of the best front lines in the NFL. (Well, as opposed to the huge problems they already have. . .missing Reiff would be a ridiculously huge problem as opposed to just a moderately huge problem.) I’m not sure what Plan B at left tackle is at this point. It could be Rashod Hill, who has played there in the past. It could be Mike Remmers, who has also played there in the past. If it’s Hill, one would have to assume that rookie Brian O’Neill, who has actually been solid in relief the couple of times he played this year, would start at right tackle. If it’s Remmers, I don’t know how the Vikings would configure things.

In addition, running back Dalvin Cook was a limited participant in practice today. He missed the Buffalo game with a hamstring issue, but it was thought that he’d be ready for this one. On the bright side, cornerback Trae Waynes was a full participant in today’s practice after suffering an ankle injury against Buffalo.

For the Rams, they could be without both of their starting cornerbacks on Thursday night. Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib both left the Rams’ win in the Battle of Los Angeles over the Chargers on Sunday, both with lower leg injuries. Peters suffered a calf injury that some feared was an Achilles tear, while Talib has an ankle injury. If the Rams are without both of those guys on Thursday, it could be the Vikings can take advantage of. . .you know, if Kirk Cousins gets an opportunity to look at the coverage for more than .2 seconds before he has to take actions to preserve his life.

Linebacker Mark Barron has also been sitting out of practices for the Rams this week with an ankle injury.

Both teams will have their final injury reports tomorrow, but that’s a primary look at what we can expect.