The Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolphins both had their second injury reports in ahead of Sunday afternoon’s matchup at U.S. Bank Stadium, and the biggest name on the board is still Justin Jefferson.
Jefferson was a DNP again on Thursday because of an ankle injury, a sign that his status is moving in the wrong direction for Sunday. The reporting suggests the Vikings could choose to be careful with him in a Week 4 home game against Miami. At the same time, it’s possible he still ends up active if he feels better and is able to get on the field Friday, though the source notes he could be on a pitch count if that happens.
Minnesota did get Aaron Jones back in practice. The running back was listed as LP after being on NIR-Rest Wednesday.
Blake Cashman also stayed limited with an elbow issue, but that doesn’t appear likely to keep him out on Sunday. Punter Brett Thorson, meanwhile, still hasn’t practiced, and the expectation is that the Vikings may again elevate Johnny Hekker from the practice squad to handle punter and holder duties for another week.
On the Vikings’ injury list, Jordan Mason remains out with a thumb injury, and Josh Oliver is also out because of a bicep issue. Both were listed as IR-OUT. Jefferson and Thorson were both still without a Friday practice update in the source, while Jones and Cashman were the only other Minnesota players noted on the report.
Miami’s report is led by De’Von Achane and Kenneth Grant, both of whom were DNP on Wednesday and Thursday and are listed as IR-OUT. The Dolphins also had several players trending in different directions, with Rob Beal Jr. and Caleb Douglas both sitting out again and appearing to be on track to miss the game.
The most important shift for Miami came with center Aaron Brewer, who was downgraded to limited on Thursday after being a full participant on Wednesday. He’s dealing with a hand injury, and that Friday update becomes the one to watch.
A few Dolphins players moved more positively. Jaylen Wright went from limited to full, while Zeek Biggers, JuJu Brents, Dante Trader, Seydou Traore and Josh Uche were all full participants by Thursday’s report. Chris Bell and Storm Duck remained limited, and Tucker Addington also stayed limited with a shoulder issue.
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Vikings Just Lost Another Depth Piece To A Desperate Giants Team
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For Minnesota, it is another reminder of how thin depth can get in a hurry when other teams are hunting for experienced bodies. Ward had been sitting on the Vikings practice squad, but New York needed a quick fix and made room by releasing Josh Tupou, leaving Minnesota to absorb one more roster loss while the market around a damaged Giants defense keeps shifting. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Finally Explained The J.J. McCarthy Trade Fans Feared
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Kevin OConnells reaction added another layer to the story, because the head coach described an emotional exchange with McCarthy after the announcement. For Minnesota, the explanation matters as much as the transaction itself, since any departure involving a high-profile young quarterback is going to invite questions about timing, trust and whether the organization sees the move as a football decision or something more complicated. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Plan For J.J. McCarthy Says Plenty About Vikings Trade
The Giants reported plan for J.J. McCarthy is a revealing one for the Vikings as much as it is for New York. Minnesota moved on from the quarterback in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round pick, and the direction the Giants are taking with him suggests they see a player whose best early fit is in a run-heavy setup rather than as the centerpiece of a high-volume passing game.
For Vikings fans, that naturally brings the trade back into focus. McCarthys college success came in a system that did not ask him to carry much of the passing load, and his time in Minnesota showed how difficult that transition could be when the offense asked for more. If the Giants are already shaping their offense around those concerns, it only sharpens the question of what the Vikings believed they had, and why they were willing to move on when they did. [Read more 🡒]