EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings will be without two starters and another defensive contributor Sunday in their Week 3 tilt against the Houston Texas. Wide receiver Jordan Addison, linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. and edge rusher Dallas Turner will miss the matchup of 2-0 teams. Star receiver Justin Jefferson, on the other hand, who exited last weekend’s game against the San Francisco 49ers with a quad contusion, will play and is not on the injured list.
Vikings Hc Kevin O’Connell says LB Ivan Pace Jr., Jordan Addison and Dallas Turner are OUT. Pace has an ankle that popped up, was limping in locker room.
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) September 20, 2024
Neither Addison nor Turner are surprises. Addison, the team’s No. 2 receiver, injured his ankle in Week 1 on a hip-drop tackle. He rehabbed this week on the side field at the TCO Performance Center, but the Vikings have opted for long-term health over a faster return that could set him back.
Turner, meanwhile, tumbled to the turf in the second half of Minnesota’s upset win last Sunday. The rookie edge rusher, who played off the ball, did not practice this week but was around the facility, walking through the locker room with a brace on his right knee.
Pace’s absence is the most notable. His quad limited him early in the week, and as the second-year off-ball linebacker worked through the injury in practice, his ankle flared up. He was seen limping in the locker room Friday. Minnesota has not provided a timetable for his return.
This is a game in which the Vikings will need their depth players to perform. Jalen Nailor, Brandon Powell and Trishton Jackson will fill in behind Jefferson at receiver. At edge, defensive coordinator Brian Flores will lean heavily on Patrick Jones II and Jihad Ward. The likely fill-in for Pace at off-ball linebacker is Kamu Grugier-Hill, but the Vikings could turn to Brian Asamoah II in blitz packages.
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(Photo: Jeffrey Becker / USA Today)
