Vikings at Panthers: Interim injury reports

Some good news for the Vikings

We’ve got the second injury reports of the week for the Minnesota Vikings and the Carolina Panthers as they prepare to do battle in Charlotte on Sunday afternoon. There’s plenty of news to be had, too, so let’s not delay any longer and get to those reports.

As always, we start things off with the visiting team.

Minnesota Vikings

Did Not Participate

• TE Ben Ellefson (knee)
• WR Justin Jefferson (ankle)
• DT Michael Pierce (elbow)
• WR Adam Thielen (foot)

Limited Participation

• LB Anthony Barr (knee, upgrade from DNP on Wednesday)
• CB Cameron Dantzler (illness, new addition to injury report)
• RB Alexander Mattison (shoulder, upgrade from DNP on Wednesday)

Full Participation

• RB Dalvin Cook (ankle, upgrade from LP on Wednesday)
• WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (toe, upgrade from LP on Wednesday)
• LB Nick Vigil (ankle)

The team also removed fullback C.J. Ham from the injury report entirely.

Yes, all of the news for the Vikings involves players being upgraded from where they were on Wednesday, with the big one being Dalvin Cook. For the first time since the Friday before the game against Arizona, Cook got in a full session of practice, and it looks like he’s going to be a full go for Sunday’s game.

Dantzler was removed from the COVID-19 list. . .fellow cornerback Harrison Hand apparently has not been. . .but he is now dealing with a different illness. Hopefully it’s something that will pass before Sunday afternoon.

Seeing both Jefferson and Thielen (still) sitting out of practice might look a bit scary on the surface, but when he was asked on Thursday Jefferson declared that he would be “good to go” for Sunday. I’d be absolutely stunned if #18 and #19 weren’t out there for this one.

And now, on to the home team.

Carolina Panthers

Did Not Participate

• LB Kamal Martin (concussion, new addition to injury report)
• RB Christian McCaffrey (hamstring, downgrade from LP on Wednesday)
• LB Shaq Thompson (foot)

Limited Participation

• CB C.J. Henderson (shoulder)

Full Participation

• OT Cameron Erving (neck)

The Panthers also removed punter Joseph Charlton from their injury report, as they placed him on Injured Reserve on Thursday.

Contrary to what’s happening with Cook, Carolina’s star running back is heading in the opposite direction, as he did not practice on Thursday after being limited on Wednesday. That doesn’t bode well for him being available for the Panthers on Sunday, and he could be looking at missing a third consecutive game. That would only help a Minnesota run defense that’s had some significant issues early on this season.

Final injury reports will be out on Friday afternoon, folks, and once they come out we will have them here for you to check out.