PERSONNEL NEWS

Strategy And Personnel

The Sports Xchange

December 07, 2018 at 6:34 pm.

PLAYER NOTES

–LB Eric Kendricks was listed on the injury report with a rib injury on Thursday. Kendricks did not participate in practice. Kendricks hasn’t missed a game this season and is coming off a career-high 18 tackles in the loss to New England.

–CB Trae Waynes didn’t practice Thursday as he deals with a concussion. Waynes sustained the concussion in last week’s game. Waynes missed Week 5 against Philadelphia with a concussion.

–TE David Morgan is still out with a knee injury. He didn’t practice on Thursday and has missed the past three games.

–WR Stefon Diggs was a limited participant in practice on Thursday with his lingering knee injury. Diggs played through the injury in last week’s loss to New England.

–CB Xavier Rhodes has been playing through injuries this season and he’s currently dealing with a hamstring injury. He was a full participant in Thursday’s practice. He’s missed one game this season.

–RG Mike Remmers practiced in full on Thursday as he deals with a back injury. He hasn’t missed a game this season.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: LB Eric Kendricks. Kendricks is coming off a career-high 18 tackles against New England and he will need to be on point against Seattle’s running game. The Seahawks lead the league in rushing this season and are using a three-back approach with Chris Carson, rookie Rashaad Penny and Mike Davis.

GAME PLAN: This week starts the final stretch to the playoffs and Monday night’s game will be an important one. Minnesota currently sits in playoff position but the next four games will determine the outcome. Seattle is a half-game ahead.

The Vikings have said they want to run the ball more and Seattle does it, leading the league in rushing. This game should be a battle of who wins along the lines and who can have more success running the ball and avoiding turnovers.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH

–Vikings S Harrison Smith vs. Seahawks QB Russell Wilson. Perhaps no quarterback is more dangerous when the pocket breaks down than Wilson. Wilson also one of the league’s best deep passers. Smith will have to be quick with his keys on whether to come up in run coverage or help out deep in the secondary.

–Vikings LT Riley Reiff vs. Seahawks DE Frank Clark. Clark has 10 of Seattle’s 31 sacks this season in his starting spot as the right defensive end, leaving the responsibility for blocking Clark to Reiff. At 265 pounds, Clark is more of a speed rusher, which should challenge Reiff.

ALL  |  NFL  |  College Football  |  MLB  |  NBA