Minnesota Vikings News and Links, 3 October 2023

“Sarcasm is the protest of the weak.” – John Knowles

Since yore last open thread …

• 2023 NFL Week 5: Kansas City Chiefs at Minnesota Vikings
• Vikings Stock Market Report: Week Four
• NFL Opening Odds: Vikings start as underdogs to Chiefs, but by less than you probably think

Other Vikings News

• Harrison Smith’s curious PFF grade after great game

Harrison Smith, S – 78.3

• Vikings had 10 players on field for crucial late-game play
• The Vikings’ defense finally gets the job done, after a rough start to the season

“It’s a huge thing for team building when the defense says, ‘You know what? I’ve got your back,’ and they go out there and made some critical plays,” coach Kevin O’Connell said after the 21-13 victory.

“Everyone was executing our jobs,” Smith said.

Against the pitiful Panthers? Please. Let’s see what they do this week against a competent offense and great QB.

• Vikings Injury Updates: Garrett Bradbury, Lewis Cine, More

“Garrett Bradbury is really close to trying to give it a go,” O’Connell said on Monday. “Probably more of a situation where we had to protect him from himself a little bit, just knowing how tough Garrett is and wanting to be out there with his teammates, but want to be sensitive with that back injury. Expecting him to have a good week of prep this week, and … barring any setbacks, to have a good chance to be out there this Sunday.”

Safety Lewis Cine missed this game with a hamstring injury. The Vikings are “hoping to get (him) some limited work and see how he progresses with that hamstring through the week,” O’Connell said. Cine has only played on special teams this season.

Yay!

• Vikings’ Byron Murphy Jr. Hints He May Use Taylor Swift Trash Talk vs. Travis Kelce

“I’m going to say something to him to get him going,” Murphy said.

Please don’t. No need to poke the bear Byron.

• Healthy Marcus Davenport is a Difference-Maker For the Vikings

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