On Monday night, the Vikings won’t be as shorthanded at receiver as the Vikings had feared.
Receiver Jalen Nailor has no injury designation on the final report in advance of the Week 1 game at Chicago. It means that he’s good to go, following a mid-August hand injury that coach Kevin O’Connell had described as “week to week.” Nailor was a full participant in practice all week.
Receiver Jordan Addison is serving a three-game suspension for pleading guilty to a DUI-related offense. The Vikings traded on August 27 for Adam Thielen.
Justin Jefferson had been hampered throughout camp by a hamstring injury. His name did not appear on any day of the Week 1 report.
So they’ll have Jefferson, Nailor, and Addison for the opener.
Tackle Christian Darrisaw, who tore an ACL in a regular-season game against the Rams midway through the 2024 regular season, is listed as questionable. Veteran safety Harrison Smith is doubtful with an illness.
Out for the Vikings are running back Zavier Scott (ankle) and defensive lineman Elijah Williams (hamstring).
Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson remained limited in Friday’s practice.
Johnson is rehabbing the groin he injured while working out before training camp, and the Bears also list him with a calf injury.
“I think we need to see him get out and get some reps and get some practice time,” defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said Friday, via Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. “I know he’s been working extremely hard to get himself back. Ultimately that will be a decision that gets made between [head coach] Ben [Johnson] and the training staff in terms of where he’s at. I know he’s itching to get back out there.”
Starting linebacker T.J. Edwards, who left practice Aug. 27 with a hamstring injury, remained out Friday. That does not bode well for his availability for Monday night.
Running back Roschon Johnson (foot) also remained a non-participant, but defensive back Josh Blackwell (groin) returned to limited work Friday.
Running back Kyle Monangai (hamstring) again was limited.
Vikings safety Harrison Smith is progressing toward a full return to action.
Smith has missed practice time recently because of a personal health issue, but he took part in the team’s walkthrough on Wednesday. He took another step forward on Friday when he took part in practice on a limited basis.
Left tackle Christian Darrisaw also took a step in the right direction. Darrisaw is dealing with a knee injury and moved from limited to full practice participation.
Running back Zavier Scott (ankle) and defensive back Elijah Williams (hamstring) remained out of practice. Wide receiver Jalen Nailor (hand) and linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (neck) were listed as full participants for the second straight day.
The Vikings will practice again on Saturday before issuing injury designations for Monday night’s game against the Bears.
Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson said earlier this week that his absence in practice during training camp was because of a groin injury. The team’s first practice report of 2025 confirmed that.
The Bears did not practice, but they estimated Johnson as limited with groin and calf injuries.
Johnson is optimistic he can play in the season opener Monday night.
Starting linebacker T.J. Edwards, who left practice Aug. 27, was estimated as a non-participant Thursday with a groin injury.
Running back Roschon Johnson (foot) and defensive back Josh Blackwell (groin) also were estimated as non-participants.
Running back Kyle Monangai (hamstring) was listed as limited, while wide receiver Devin Duvernay (hamstring) and defensive lineman Dominique Robinson (oblique) were estimated as full participants.
After an up-and-down rookie year, Caleb Williams will play his first game with Ben Johnson as his head coach on Monday night when the Bears take on the Vikings.
Johnson’s strength as an offensive schemer and play-caller has been well documented, with Detroit finishing No. 1 in points scored and No. 2 in total offense in 2024.
In his Wednesday press conference, Williams praised the way Johnson has poured into him over the course of the offseason and training camp.
"[My] knowledge of football and NFL football has grown even just sitting in some of the meetings this, year and even today and going through our first game week and just understanding things I may not have understood last year,” Williams said, via Larry Mayer of the team’s website.
“Whether that’s defenses, whether it’s offenses, I think I’ve taken a step there. I have to keep taking those steps throughout this year and many years from now. But Ben, he’s been great for me. He’s pushed me. Like I’ve said many times, he’s a teacher and he will be persistent until you get it.”
As the Bears get ready for Monday night, Williams told reporters just how comfortable he’s become with Johnson directing the offense.
“I’ve got the utmost confidence in Ben, in his coaching ability, his play-calling and all of that,” Williams said. “It comes down to being able to execute exactly what he puts out there for us as a team, as an offense. Throughout the week when we’re messing up — which is going to happen — we have to get back in the huddle, redo it, so that when it happens on game day, we go out there and execute exactly what he dishes out for us.”
