Vikings Reveal 1st Injury Report of the Week

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

The key takeaway is that Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. is returning to the playing field.

Vikings Reveal 1st Injury Report of the Week

All things considered, the Vikings’ Week 5 injury report remained fairly clean, with the only man missing all of Wednesday’s practice as cornerback Akayleb Evans. He’s battling an illness.

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images.

Here’s the injury report with four days to go before Minnesota plays a “home game” against the New York Jets in London:

Akayleb Evans — Did Not Practice (CB, Illness)

Ivan Pace Jr. — Limited Practice (ILB, Quad/Ankle)

Josh Oliver — Limited Practice (TE, Wrist)

Brandon Powell — Limited Practice (WR, Ribs)

Sam Darnold — Full Practice (QB, Knee)

Evans is the next man up at cornerback if something injury-wise occurs to Stephon Gilmore, Byron Murphy, and Shaquill Griffin. He also produced some sweet special teams plays in the Vikings’ 31-29 win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday.

Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images.

Pace Jr. has missed the last two games — both wins — hurt versus the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2. Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling tweeted Monday, “Kevin O’Connell said the Vikings came out of the game in ‘relatively good health’ and hope to get Ivan Pace Jr. back for the Jets game in London.”

It seems Goessling nailed it, and Pace Jr. should be in the lineup across the pond this weekend. In Pace Jr.’s stead, veteran Kamu Grugier-Hill has filled in admirably, even netting two interceptions for his troubles.

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Oliver and Powell are newcomers to the injury report, evidently banged up in Green Bay. Powell was injured midgame with a rib injury, thrusting Jalen Nailor into a punt-returning role — that did not go well. Nailor attempted to field a punt late in the 2nd Quarter with Minnesota ahead 28-0. Deep in his own territory, he lost the punt in the sun, attempted to catch it with hands over his head instead of his breadbasket, and it sailed over his head, resulting in a Packers recovery. Green Bay scored a touchdown soon after, and the comeback, albeit ultimately unsuccessful, was in motion. 

Star Tribune’s Andrew Krammer wrote Sunday, “Powell said quarterback Sam Darnold came up to him on the sideline to apologize after a late third-down pass over the middle that got Powell drilled by a couple of Packers defenders. Powell missed the end of the first half with a rib injury.”

Powell said about his injury, “It’s a timing play. That’s his fault I got hurt, but it’s football.”

Brad Rempel-Imagn Images,

Finally, Darnold’s injury report mention is full disclosure for his knee bruise suffered in Week 3 against the Houston Texans. He was also hit again at Lambeau, appearing to reaggravate the aliment.

These are Minnesota’s long-term injuries:

Mekhi Blackmon, CB (Knee, Out for season)

Jeremy Flax, OL (Out for season)

T.J. Hockenson, TE (Knee, Practice Window to Open on 10/4)

Jordan Kunaszyk, LB (Out for season)

J.J. McCarthy, QB (Knee, Out for season)

Gabriel Murphy, OLB (Return unknown)

Dalton Risner, OG (Back, Waiting for Practice Window to Open)

Najee Thompson, CB (Knee, Out for season)

Oddsmakers expect the Vikings to win by 2.5 points in London.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. 

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.