Vikings-Cowboys Injury Report: Thielen and Joseph Out, Cooper Questionable
Ahead of their massive showdown on Sunday Night Football, both the 6-3 Vikings and 5-3 Cowboys are a bit banged up.
It was announced earlier Friday that the Vikings would be without star receiver Adam Thielen, who may be held out next week as well. But unlike the past couple weeks, Thielen isn't the only Viking dealing with injury issues.
Linval Joseph being ruled out with a knee injury is a surprising and unfortunate loss for Minnesota. Joseph has played in all nine games this season – recording 31 tackles, three sacks, and a forced fumble – and practiced in full on Wednesday, but missed practice entirely on Thursday and Friday. He is an important player in the middle for the Vikings, who are going against the Cowboys' elite offensive line and running back Ezekiel Elliott.
Mike Zimmer declined to give out any information about Joseph's injury. In his place, Jaleel Johnson will make his second career start at nose tackle.
Also out for the Vikings is the recently-acquired Andrew Sendejo. Starting cornerback Trae Waynes and rotational defensive lineman Stephen Weatherly are questionable, though Zimmer said this week he expects Waynes to play.
For the Cowboys, star receiver Amari Cooper is questionable, but SI Cowboys reporter Mike Fisher expects Cooper to play. The Cowboys had a number of other players practicing in a limited capacity this week, including several members of their vaunted offensive line and linebackers Sean Lee and Leighton Vander Esch, but they're all expected to play.
Here is the full injury report:
