Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI |
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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Reporters waiting for an update on Adrian Peterson's knee had to wait a few seconds while Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer dropped a bomb about Matt Kalil's hip.
Kalil, the team's starting left tackle in every game the past five seasons, was placed on injured reserve and isn't expected to return this season. Meanwhile, Peterson, the future Hall of Fame running back, will undergo surgery on Thursday to repair the meniscus in his right knee and could be out anywhere from three weeks to all season, depending on what the surgeon finds, Zimmer said.
In other news, what's left of the 2-0 Vikings will head to Carolina on Sunday to play the reigning conference champs at Bank of America Stadium. And, oh yeah, the Panthers have won 14 straight home games while scoring 37 or more points in their past seven home wins.
Asked what his message was to a team that has now lost its starting quarterback (Teddy Bridgewater), running back and left tackle in the past three weeks, Zimmer shrugged in a way that signifies the NFL's rugged next-man-up mantra.
"I feel like we have to go back to work and go play Carolina," Zimmer said. "I expect (the players) to perform the way I always expect them to perform. ... This team, to me, is a team that is resilient, tough and competitive. Obviously we've had a few setbacks. I think if you go back last year and look at the things that happened, you know we're not the type of team that's going to sit back and cry about what's happening. We're going to go forward and try to find a way."
Defensively, the Vikings can counter Carolina's top-ranked scoring offense (33.0) with the fifth-ranked scoring defense (15.0). Top cornerback Xavier Rhodes, who missed the first two games because of a knee injury, is expected to return to a defense that held Aaron Rodgers to a 70.7 passer rating in a 17-14 win in the first regular-season game at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Offensively, the biggest question mark will be second-year pro T.J. Clemmings at left tackle. Clemmings struggled in his 17 starts at right tackle as a rookie and was demoted to swing tackle when former Bengal Andre Smith was signed via free agency. Clemmings' only experience at left tackle came in the Senior Bowl in 2015 and during this past offseason and preseason.
At running back, Jerick McKinnon, a shifty runner and good pass catcher, will start and share the position with Matt Asiata, whose strength is short yardage and pass protection. For depth purposes, the Vikings signed former Bronco Ronnie Hillman, who had a 100-yard game in a win over the Vikings last season.
Peterson was injured in the third quarter of Sunday's win over the Packers. He left the game with 19 yards on 12 carries, giving him 50 yards and a 1.6 average per carry through two games.
But his presence did create more passing opportunities as opponents loaded the box with eight and nine defenders. In Week 1, 36-year-old journeyman quarterback Shaun Hill made key throws down the field and wasn't sacked in a win at Tennessee. Against the Packers, Sam Bradford posted a 121.2 passer rating with two touchdowns and no turnovers just 15 days and eight practices after arriving via trade from Philadelphia.
"That's the NFL," defensive end Brian Robison said. "Everybody's going to get injured. Nobody is going to feel sorry for you. You never want to see a guy go down, but at the end of the day, time is not going to stop. We just have to keep moving forward."
NOTES: CB Xavier Rhodes (knee) returned to practice on Wednesday. He was limited but is expected to play for the first time this season. That's a big boost for the fifth-ranked scoring defense as it prepares to face big receiver Kelvin Benjamin. ... DT Sharrif Floyd (knee) missed practice on Wednesday and is looking likely to miss a second consecutive game. The team has come to expect that Floyd, an All-Pro-caliber player when healthy, will rarely be healthy. ... TE MyCole Pruitt (knee) returned to practice on a limited basis and could play his first game of the season. ... DE Danielle Hunter, a backup who is tied for the team lead in sacks with two, was limited in practice because of a knee injury. He's expected to play. ... MLB Eric Kendricks (ankle) was limited in Wednesday's practice but is expected to play. ... TE Kyle Rudolph (groin) was limited in Wednesday's practice but is expected to play. ... KR Cordarrelle Patterson, who has led the NFL in kick return average in two of the past three full seasons, is at it again. He has a 41.0 average with a long of 61.
