Inside The Vikings

Final Vikings Injury Report vs. Lions: Byron Murphy Jr., Ivan Pace Jr., Jordan Hicks

The Vikings have a bunch of players questionable for Sunday's game.
Will Ragatz|
Final Vikings Injury Report vs. Lions: Byron Murphy Jr., Ivan Pace Jr., Jordan Hicks
Final Vikings Injury Report vs. Lions: Byron Murphy Jr., Ivan Pace Jr., Jordan Hicks

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Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings have ruled out No. 1 cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (hamstring) for Sunday's NFC North showdown against the Lions, the team announced on Friday. WR Jalen Nailor (concussion) is also out, and the following six players have been ruled questionable:

  • RT Brian O'Neill (ankle)
  • RB Alexander Mattison (ankle)
  • LB Ivan Pace Jr. (shoulder)
  • LB Jordan Hicks (shin)
  • DT Harrison Phillips (back)
  • DT Jonathan Bullard (ankle)

That's quite the final injury report. Pace is a new addition to the list on Friday, but it sounds like he's just being listed as questionable as a precaution. He was limited slightly during Friday's practice due to some shoulder discomfort. Hicks practiced in full all week, so he could be activated from injured reserve on Saturday if the Vikings feel like he's ready to go.

If O'Neill can't go, David Quessenberry would get another start at right tackle. Ty Chandler is expected to lead the Vikings' backfield even if Mattison ends up playing. The Vikings are hoping to have Phillips and Bullard available as their top two defensive tackles, but players like Sheldon Day, Khyiris Tonga, Jaquelin Roy, and T.J. Smith are next in line if one or both of the starters are inactive.

Danielle Hunter is not on the injury report at all after dealing with an illness earlier in the week.

Murphy is a big loss for the Vikings against Amon-Ra St. Brown and the Lions. The fifth-year veteran leads Minnesota in interceptions (3) and passes defended (13) and also has four tackles for loss and a forced fumble. It'll be Akayleb Evans and Mekhi Blackmon as the team's top two corners against Detroit, with Andrew Booth Jr. next in line for snaps. Joejuan Williams is a candidate to be elevated from the practice squad for depth purposes.

Inactives will come out at 10:30 a.m. central time on Sunday ahead of a noon kickoff.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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