Eric Kendricks downgraded to OUT against Lions

If the Minnesota Vikings are going to get back to .500. . .again. . .on Sunday afternoon, they’re going to have to beat the Detroit Lions without the services of their best defensive player.

The team announced just a short time ago that linebacker Eric Kendricks, who had been listed as questionable with a bicep injury on Friday’s final injury report, has been downgraded to OUT for Sunday’s game at Ford Field.

The loss of Kendricks is a significant blow to a Vikings’ defense that has had their issues so far even with him out on the field. He’s one of the team’s primary leaders on defense and has made a bunch of big plays when the team has needed them.

With Kendricks being out, we will likely see an increased role for Nick Vigil, and Troy Dye will likely play a bigger role on defense for the Vikings on Sunday as well.

The Vikings made a bunch of other moves this morning as well, but this one was important enough to stand on its own. We’ll get to the rest here momentarily.

Once again, Vikings’ linebacker Eric Kendricks has been ruled OUT of Sunday’s NFC North matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.