New Vikings Injury Report Reveals Familiar Questions

We are now just three days away from the Minnesota Vikings taking the field for a Week 9 contest against the Detroit Lions. It’s a notable period on the schedule because it represents an opportunity to even the ledger and get back to a .500 record.

There’s also the exciting reality that J.J. McCarthy will be back under center for the first time since Week 2. Minnesota’s presumed quarterback of the future is locked in as the starter, and Carson Wentz is out of the picture after undergoing season-ending surgery.

As has been the case all season, it comes down to who will be protecting the signal caller.

Linemen continue to highlight MN Vikings injury report

The Vikings spent a substantial amount of money on the offensive line this offseason. They intended to have a beefed up front, and things have not gone according to plan. Injury and availability has been at the crux of the problem, and concerns remain for Week 9.

Local insider Darren “Doogie” Wolfson has reported that Brian O’Neill will play on Sunday against the Detroit Lions. That would seem to have given Minnesota a chance at a nearly-complete offensive line. That was until Christian Darrisaw popped up on the injury report and didn’t practice on Thursday.

ESPN’s Kevin Seifert is reporting that Darrisaw’s knee issue is not simply a day of rest as was the case earlier this season. The star left tackle underwent season-ending surgery last year, took two weeks to appear in a game this season, and missed last Thursday’s contest.

It is a certainty that veteran fullback C.J. Ham will not play for the Vikings on Sunday. He missed the first four games of the season spending that time on injured reserve. He then missed last week’s contest and will now be out for a second straight game due to a hand injury.

#Vikings FB CJ Ham wont play this Sunday against the #Lions, @DWolfsonKSTP mentioned via @SKORNorth.

Ham has now missed 2 straight games, and was seen wearing a bulky wrap on his hand a week ago 👇 pic.twitter.com/7vlsvy51Qn

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) October 30, 2025

Jonathan Greenard, who has been on the injury report, will be back out there against Detroit. That’s a positive with Andrew Van Ginkel getting in a second-straight full practice. The tandem of edge rushers should help each other thrive if both can be on the field at the same time.

Neither Jeff Okudah or Josh Oliver were on the field again Thursday. Okudah is dealing with his second concussion this season. That could mean another elevation for practice squad veteran Fabian Moreau.

The Minnesota Vikings are nearly double-digit underdogs against the Lions, and they’ll have their hands full if an upset is in the cards.