The Giants and Vikings have released their injury designations for the Monday night game. No big surprises on there, and the biggest player – Rashad Jennings – remains a question.
Jennings is questionable and was a limited participant in practice all week, and it’s not clear if he’ll play. He was listed the exact way last week and was not active against Washington.
If Jennings is active and feeling reasonably well (would the Giants feel comfortable with his ability to avoid fumbling the ball?) he’ll be their main back. If not, Orleans Darkwa should take over the bulk of those duties.
The Giants definitely will be without Shane Vereen, and they’ll likely plug Bobby Rainey into that third-down back role. Ben McAdoo indicates the team hasn’t given up on fifth-rounder Paul Perkins, who might now be active.
New York has issues with its secondary, Eli Apple and Nat Berhe definitely aren’t playing. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (groin) is questionable but didn’t practice all week. With those injuries in mind, we are increasing our projections for Minnesota’s passing game – Stefon Diggs in particular might have a field day against this secondary.
The Vikings enter this game pretty healthy. (Healthy, that is, in terms of injuries this week – earlier in the year they lost their quarterback, tailback and left tackle.)
Other injury news:
The Patriots are reportedly starting Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback. This gives all of their pass catchers a nice boost. Garoppolo has a lot more downfield passing ability (and overall passing skill) than rookie Jacoby Brissett. Assuming Garoppolo is reasonably healthy, players like Rob Gronkowski, Martellus Bennett, Julian Edelman and Chris Hogan look a lot more palatable. Hogan played for Buffalo last year, and you’ve got to figure he’ll be champing at the bit for this one.
Willie Snead of New Orleans says he’s playing. He’s a solid option in what should be a shootout between the Saints and Chargers.
Dez Bryant is unlikely to play, but he at least made the trip to San Francisco, so he can’t be entirely ruled out just yet.
With there being so many Saturday injury updates, we’re putting patches into the Friday supplement and will re-send that product later in the day. If you’re a subscriber, stay tuned – it’s coming (likely before 6:30 p.m. EDT).
NEW YORK GIANTS at MINNESOTA VIKINGS
NEW YORK
(New York did not conduct a practice on Saturday. The Saturday practice report is an estimation.)
OUT: S Nat Berhe (concussion), T Marshall Newhouse (calf), DT Robert Thomas (illness), S Darian Thompson (foot)
DOUBTFUL: CB Eli Apple (hamstring)
QUESTIONABLE: RB Rashad Jennings (thumb), CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (groin)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday: CB Eli Apple (hamstring), S Nat Berhe (concussion), T Marshall Newhouse (calf), CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (groin), DT Robert Thomas (illness), S Darian Thompson (foot)
Friday: CB Eli Apple (hamstring), S Nat Berhe (concussion), T Marshall Newhouse (calf), CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (groin), DT Robert Thomas (illness), S Darian Thompson (foot)
Saturday: CB Eli Apple (hamstring), S Nat Berhe (concussion), T Marshall Newhouse (calf), CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (groin), DT Robert Thomas (illness), S Darian Thompson (foot)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: RB Rashad Jennings (thumb)
Friday: RB Rashad Jennings (thumb)
Saturday: RB Rashad Jennings (thumb)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: DE Olivier Vernon (wrist)
Friday: DE Olivier Vernon (wrist)
Saturday: DE Olivier Vernon (wrist)
MINNESOTA
QUESTIONABLE: DT Sharrif Floyd (knee), TE David Morgan (knee)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday: G Alex Boone (hip), DT Sharrif Floyd (knee), RB Zach Line (knee), TE David Morgan (knee)
Friday: DT Sharrif Floyd (knee), TE David Morgan (knee)
Saturday: DT Sharrif Floyd (knee), S Jayron Kearse (tooth), TE David Morgan (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Friday: G Alex Boone (hip), WR Stefon Diggs (groin), RB Zach Line (knee)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: LB Anthony Barr (wrist), RB Jerick McKinnon (toe), TE MyCole Pruitt (knee), CB Xavier Rhodes (knee)
Friday: LB Anthony Barr (wrist), RB Jerick McKinnon (toe), TE MyCole Pruitt (knee), CB Xavier Rhodes (knee)
Saturday: LB Anthony Barr (wrist), G Alex Boone (hip), WR Stefon Diggs (groin), RB Zach Line (knee), RB Jerick McKinnon (toe), TE MyCole Pruitt (knee), CB Xavier Rhodes (knee)