Minnesota filed its final injury report Saturday ahead of Monday night against Buffalo, and the new designations went beyond the quarterback situation that was already settled. Receiver Jauan Jennings (calf) and running back Demond Claiborne (knee) are out with Kyler Murray, whose hamstring strain was diagnosed as Grade 2, and safeties Theo Jackson (quad) and Jay Ward (knee) are questionable. Tackle Christian Darrisaw, linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, linebacker Jake Golday and cornerback Isaiah Rodgers carry no designations and are expected to play. Carson Wentz remains the starter.
- Out: Jennings (calf strain), Claiborne (knee) and Murray (hamstring)
- Questionable: Jackson (quad) and Ward (knee)
- No designation: Darrisaw, Van Ginkel, Golday and Rodgers
- Kevin O’Connell said both new injuries happened at Thursday’s practice, and Claiborne’s knee is not necessarily surgical or season-ending
- A practice-squad receiver elevation is likely Sunday, with Jeshaun Jones, Odell Beckham Jr. and Dillon Bell as the candidates
- Elsewhere: the Jets downgraded Joseph Ossai, Nahshon Wright and VJ Payne to out, and the Cowboys placed rookie linebacker Malachi Lawrence on injured reserve
Jennings and Claiborne ruled out
Jennings was limited Thursday, then did not practice Friday or Saturday, before the Vikings officially listed him out. O’Connell said the receiver and Claiborne both “sustained some injuries” at Thursday’s practice, with Jennings suffering “a calf strain.” Jennings, who signed with Minnesota last May after six seasons in San Francisco, has six catches for 54 yards this season and had been the club’s No. 3 receiver behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
Claiborne, the rookie running back, was also limited Thursday and sat out Friday and Saturday. O’Connell said he “got a knee” at that same practice and that the Vikings “don’t necessarily think it’s going to be a surgical thing,” while they are “still kind of in the process evaluating how much time he may miss.” He added that he does not think Claiborne’s “season’s necessarily over.” Claiborne has six carries for 13 yards and two catches for 8 yards this season and had been a healthy scratch the past two games behind Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason.
A practice-squad receiver may come up Sunday
With Jennings out, second-year receiver Tai Felton is in line to move up behind Jefferson and Addison, and return specialist Myles Price also figures to mix in more on offense. O’Connell said the Vikings will likely elevate a wide receiver from the practice squad on Sunday. The candidates are Jones, Beckham and rookie Bell.
Asked whether this could be the week Beckham makes his Vikings debut, O’Connell said, “we’re working through that.” He added, “Been encouraged by Odell this week in practice. Certainly something we’re thinking about.” Nothing has been filed yet; clubs have until Sunday afternoon to announce elevations for Monday’s game. Beckham was elevated once earlier this season at New Orleans and was inactive.
Two safeties are questionable
Jackson (quad) did not practice Thursday or Friday after last week’s game in Detroit and was limited Saturday. Ward was limited all three days with a knee injury. If either cannot go Monday, Minnesota would turn to its other safeties. Darrisaw (shoulder/rest) and Van Ginkel (chest) came off the report after finishing the week and are expected to be available, along with Golday (calf) and Rodgers (ankle).
Monday night status board
| Player | Injury | Week 9 outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Kyler Murray, QB, Vikings | Grade 2 hamstring strain | Out vs. Buffalo; Carson Wentz starts |
| Jauan Jennings, WR, Vikings | Calf strain | Out vs. Buffalo |
| Demond Claiborne, RB, Vikings | Knee | Out vs. Buffalo; timeline still being evaluated |
| Theo Jackson, S, Vikings | Quad | Questionable |
| Jay Ward, S, Vikings | Knee | Questionable |
| Christian Darrisaw, T, Vikings | Shoulder / rest | No designation; expected to play |
| Andrew Van Ginkel, OLB, Vikings | Chest | No designation; expected to play |
| Jake Golday, LB / Isaiah Rodgers, CB, Vikings | Calf / ankle | No designation; expected to play |
Elsewhere after Saturday afternoon
Ian Rapoport reported that the New York Jets downgraded linebacker Joseph Ossai, cornerback Nahshon Wright and safety VJ Payne to out. All three had been listed as questionable. Those changes landed after Friday’s report and were not part of Saturday’s earlier injury wrap.
Mike Garafolo reported that the Dallas Cowboys placed rookie first-round linebacker Malachi Lawrence on injured reserve and activated linebacker Marist Liufau from injured reserve. Dallas also elevated receiver Jordan Hudson and tight end James Mitchell from the practice squad. Defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard remains on injured reserve and is out Sunday against Indianapolis.
Buffalo’s Saturday report is already up separately: Joshua Palmer is out, and Dion Dawkins, Alec Anderson, Greg Gaines, Jordan Hancock and Tyrell Shavers are questionable, as Joe Brady outlined after practice.
What comes next
The Vikings still have Sunday to decide on a practice-squad receiver elevation before Monday night. Inactive lists come out 90 minutes before each Sunday kickoff, starting with Cincinnati-Atlanta in Madrid at 9:30 a.m. ET; none of those lists were posted in the overnight window. Amon-Ra St. Brown remains questionable with a rib injury for Detroit at Miami, with no new designation overnight, and Jackson and Ward will be watched through Monday.
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