The Vikings will not have a couple of key players for Sunday’s matchup against the Falcons.
Outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (concussion) and offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw (knee) are out for Week 2.
Van Ginkel has not been able to practice this week. Darrisaw began the week as a full participant, but was limited on Thursday before being ruled out on Friday.
Via Kevin Seifert of ESPN, head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters that Darrisaw did not have a setback this week.
Safety Harrison Smith (illness) is questionable. Reserve cornerback Jeff Okudah (concussion) is out.
Tight end Josh Oliver (ankle), cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (elbow), center Ryan Kelly (toe), receiver Myles Price (knee), running back Zavier Scott (ankle), receiver Jalen Nailor (hand), and defensive lineman Elijah Williams (hamstring) are all off the injury report and set to play.
The Falcons are set to have both of their top wideouts in the lineup against the Vikings on Sunday night.
Neither Drake London nor Darnell Mooney have injury designations for the game. Mooney missed Week 1 with a shoulder injury and London picked one up in the loss to the Buccaneers, but both players were full participants on Friday and are ready to go.
First-round pick James Pearce Jr. (groin) was limited on Friday and is listed as questionable. The edge rusher is joined in that group by safety DeMarcco Hellams (hamstring) and defensive back Billy Bowman (shoulder).
Wide receiver Jamal Agnew (groin), safety Jordan Fuller (knee), offensive lineman Jack Nelson, and wide receiver Casey Washington (concussion) have all been ruled out.
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy missed practice today to welcome his son into the world.
Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters today that McCarthy went to the hospital to be with his fiancée, who is giving birth to their son.
McCarthy was at the team facility this morning but left before afternoon practice.
The 22-year-old McCarthy has had a busy week, making his first career start on Monday night, shaking off a rough start and leading the Vikings to a comeback win in Chicago. He was named the NFC’s offensive player of the week for his efforts, and now he adds an even more memorable moment to his week.
The Vikings have made some roster moves on Thursday.
Minnesota announced the club has placed running back Ty Chandler and linebacker Blake Cashman on injured reserve. Each player will miss at least the next four weeks.
Cashman had to exit the team’s Week 1 victory over the Bears on Monday night with a hamstring injury.
Chandler made one of the key plays toward the end of the game, taking a kickoff out of the end zone to run the clock down to the two-minute warning. He is now sidelined by a knee injury.
As corresponding moves, the Vikings announced they’ve signed receiver Tim Jones and tight end Nick Vannett off their practice squad to fill out the 53-man roster.
The Vikings’ fourth-quarter comeback win over the Bears on Monday Night Football drew a big audience.
ESPN announced that the game reached 22.1 million viewers, an 8 percent increase over the audience for last year’s Monday night opener, which was the Jets against the 49ers.
The total viewership figure includes everyone watching the main broadcast on ESPN and ABC, the ManningCast on ESPN2, the Spanish-language broadcast on ESPN Deportes and the NFL+ stream. There was no breakdown announced for how many viewers watched on each of those platforms.
ESPN also announced that its Monday Night Countdown pregame show drew 1.76 million viewers, up 39 percent from Week One last year.
