Vikings Final Injury Report: Thielen Among Four Starters Ruled Out

The bye week can't come soon enough for the Vikings.

They'll be without four starters for this week's game against the Broncos, the team announced today. Adam Thielen, Josh Kline, Linval Joseph, and Anthony Harris have all been officially ruled out for Sunday's game. Andrew Sendejo is questionable.

Thielen is essentially missing his fifth straight game. After injuring his hamstring early on against the Lions in Week 7, he missed the Redskins game, tried to return against the Chiefs but re-aggravated the injury early in the first quarter, and now has officially been out for two straight games.

Following the loss to the Chiefs, it became clear that the team was preparing to hold Thielen out through the Week 12 bye in order to get his hamstring fully healed. The hope is that he will be able to return for the stretch run, starting with a huge Monday Night Football game in Seattle in Week 13.

To help mitigate Thielen's absence, the Vikings have activated Josh Doctson to the 53-man roster. Doctson should make his season debut on Sunday. It's unclear whether he will surpass Laquon Treadwell for the third receiver role behind Stefon Diggs and Bisi Johnson.

Kline suffered a concussion midway through the Cowboys game last week, his second concussion of the season. He was replaced by Dakota Dozier, who will make his fourth start of the season on Sunday.

Joseph is out for a second consecutive game with a knee injury, which means Jaleel Johnson will get another start. The Vikings' interior defensive line performed admirably against the Cowboys, limiting Ezekiel Elliot to 47 rushing yards on 20 carries. Johnson, Shamar Stephen, Stephen Weatherly, Ifeadi Odenigbo, and rookie Armon Watts all contributed in the win.

Perhaps the biggest news is that Harris will miss his first game of the season with a groin injury. Harris and Harrison Smith play virtually ever snap as the Vikings' two safeties, so his loss will be a big one. Harris is the only player on the team with multiple interceptions (3), and is tied for second on the team with seven passes defended.

If Sendejo is out, Jayron Kearse would start and play the entire game. If Sendejo is active as a Viking for the first time since coming over from the Eagles, the two would presumably both see the field.