PLAYER NOTES
–RB Dalvin Cook didn’t practice on Wednesday as he deals with a lingering hamstring injury and a report from the NFL Network said he could be held out until after Minnesota’s bye week in Week 10 of the season. The Vikings return after the bye on Nov. 18 at Chicago. Cook has only played three games this season and has missed four of the past five games. Asked if Cook could play this week, head coach Mike Zimmer only said, “There’s always a chance.”
–LB Anthony Barr was held out of practice on Wednesday with a hamstring injury. Barr left Sunday’s win in New York with a hamstring injury. He was replaced by Eric Wilson.
–CB Xavier Rhodes was held out of practice to start the week for Minnesota with a foot injury. Rhodes was injured in Sunday’s game at New York and head coach Mike Zimmer said he twisted his ankle. Rhodes was replaced by undrafted rookie Holton Hill on Sunday and Hill intercepted a pass on his first play after replacing Rhodes.
–G Tom Compton didn’t practice on Wednesday with a knee injury. Compton, who has started every game at left guard in place of injured Nick Easton, left Sunday’s game and didn’t return. Danny Isidora played in place of Compton against the Jets.
–S Andrew Sendejo was still not participating as the team practiced Wednesday in preparation for Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints. Sendejo has missed the past two games with a groin injury. George Iloka has replaced Sendejo in the starting lineup.
–NT Linval Joseph practiced in a limited capacity on Wednesday as he tries to make his way back from several injuries. Joseph missed last week’s game against New York and was replaced in the starting lineup by Jaleel Johnson. Joseph was listed on the injury report last week with ankle, knee and shoulder injuries. His listing on Wednesday had the shoulder injury removed, but he’s still dealing with issues to his ankle and knee.
–LT Riley Reiff returned to practice for the first time since prior to Week 5 because of a foot injury. Reiff, who has been held out the past two games, was limited on Wednesday. Minnesota has used Rashod Hill at left tackle in place of Reiff, with rookie Brian O’Neill taking Hill’s spot at right tackle.
–DE Everson Griffen was taken off the team’s injury report after he reported to the team following time away to handle a mental-health issue. Griffen practiced with the team on Wednesday though he and head coach Mike Zimmer wouldn’t say if Griffen will play on Sunday against New Orleans. Griffen has missed the past five games.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: S Harrison Smith. Smith has a lot of responsibility in the Vikings’ defensive backfield and he will need to keep his eye on quarterback Drew Brees this week. Brees, the future Hall of Famer, is completing 77.3 percent of his passes this season, has thrown 13 touchdowns with no interceptions and a 121.6 passer rating. Smith will have to be on top of his game to track where Brees is going with the ball. Smith has had strong games in the past against New Orleans. He had a career-best three passes defensed when the two teams met in the regular season last year and added eight tackles. In the playoffs, Smith sacked Brees. In three games against the Saints, Smith has 17 tackles, one sack and four passes defensed.
GAME PLAN: Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer noted how different preparation was this week in getting ready to face the Saints and quarterback Drew Brees. Minnesota has taken advantage of rookie quarterbacks on the other side the past two weeks. Brees and New Orleans head coach Sean Payton offer a bigger challenge. As Zimmer noted, the Saints’ offense is “indiscriminate,” knowing the ball can go to any of the team’s playmakers. Receiver Michael Thomas has 53 catches and four touchdowns this season. Dual-threat back Alvin Kamara has 363 yards rushing, 362 receiving yards and seven touchdowns and New Orleans has running back Mark Ingram II back from his suspension to start the season. Xavier Rhodes will have to slow Thomas. Minnesota’s safeties and linebackers will need to keep their eyes on Kamara and Ingram and not get caught with the deception Brees offers.
Offensively, Adam Thielen is likely to see top cover cornerback Marshon Lattimore, possibly even with Thielen spending his time in the slot. The Vikings have made some strides running the ball in recent weeks and could use a good game on the ground to take the pressure off Cousins in having to keep pace with Brees. Cousins gives Minnesota a chance in back-and-forth games more than its had in the past, but the Vikings likely won’t want to get into a shootout on Sunday.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Vikings RT vs. Saints DE Cameron Jordan. Rookie Brian O’Neill has started the past two games at right tackle and has fared well, showing his development since being taken in the second round of the draft. But Minnesota might go back to Rashod Hill at right tackle if Riley Reiff is able to return to the left side from his foot injury. Hill struggled to contain Jordan for part of last year’s playoff game and Jordan has five sacks already this season. Whether it’s Hill or O’Neill, the Vikings will need to slow Jordan from impacting the game as a pass rusher.
–Vikings CB Xavier Rhodes vs. Saints WR Michael Thomas. Thomas will travel at times inside and start from the slot but much of his work is done on the outside and he will see plenty of Rhodes. It’s possible Rhodes could even follow him inside, but the two will go head-to-head outside and down the field often. Thomas has taken an even bigger chunk of the Saints’ offense this season, but he had seven catches on 13 targets for 85 yards and a touchdown in the playoff meeting last season.
