PLAYER NOTES
–LB Eric Kendricks was the only player not practicing as the team returned to the field on Wednesday. Kendricks was listed on the team’s injury report with a hamstring injury. Kendricks was on the injury report last week with a rib injury but played in Sunday’s game.
–TE David Morgan returned last week after missing four games with a knee injury. He was limited on Wednesday as he works through his recovery.
–RG Mike Remmers was limited in Wednesday’s practice as he plays through a lower back injury.
–WR Chad Beebe was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice with a hamstring injury.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: RB Dalvin Cook. Minnesota got its running game going last week against Miami and will need to stay with it to win on the road. Since the Vikings ran for 128 yards against Detroit last time, the Lions’ run defense has tightened. Detroit is giving up 79.2 rushing yards a game the past six weeks and four times held opponents to 61 yards or less. Cook, the reigning offensive player of the week, has the talent to beat the best defenses and had a 70-yard run against the Lions in the previous game.
GAME PLAN: Detroit holds no playoff aspirations but surely would love to ruin the chances for a division opponent. Not to mention, the Lions need to show something late under first-year coach Matt Patricia. The Vikings need to keep winning to control their playoff chances.
Minnesota will try to run the ball and use play-action passing in coordinator Kevin Stefanski’s second game. The defense will dial up the pressure on Matthew Stafford that has worked in so many of the matchups between the teams.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Vikings CB Xavier Rhodes vs. Lions WR Kenny Golladay. Rhodes always shadows against Detroit and that responsibility will now draw him to Golladay. There were the matchups against Calvin Johnson and then Marvin Jones Jr. With Jones injured and Golden Tate traded, the Lions’ biggest threat is Golladay. The 6-foot-4 receiver had seven catches for 146 yards against Buffalo last week.
–Vikings DE Danielle Hunter vs. Lions RT. Hunter is second in the league with 14.5 sacks and is one of the most versatile defensive linemen in the league. Detroit’s starting RT Rick Wagner missed last week’s game with a concussion. Rookie Tyrell Crosby started in Wagner’s place and generally held up well, but slowing Hunter is a tough task.
