Vikings vs Birdies

With Andrew Van Ginkel out, Vikings’ Dallas Turner will make first NFL start vs. Falcons

Vikings edge rusher and team captain Jonathan Greenard has been telling anyone who will listen that edge rusher Dallas Turner, a 2024 first-round pick, is going to be a standout player in the NFL.

Turner will get his biggest turn on stage Sunday night against the Falcons. He’s expected to make his first NFL start with outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel ruled out due to a concussion suffered Monday night in Chicago.

Greenard pointed to one area of Turner’s game that popped from the team’s film review session off the Bears game.

“He was playing the run really well,” Greenard told the Minnesota Star Tribune. “That was the main thing we wanted him to do. ... He was shocking guys, getting off the ball and making tackles; explosive, just giving that good juice and energy.”

Defensive coordinator Brian Flores said he emerged from the 27-24 win over the Bears thinking Turner should’ve played more. Turner played 29 of 67 snaps (43%), which is around his career high of 51% during his first NFL game last year.

Starting will be “a lot more responsibility,” Turner said, but he feels better prepared for this moment than if it had come a year ago.

“Felt much more comfortable with a year under my belt in the same system,” Turner said. “Emphasizing what’s important in what we run on defense, basically our roles as outside linebackers.”

Flores did not hesitate when asked his confidence level in Turner.

“Very high,” Flores said. “I thought he played very well last week. When I looked back and saw the snap counts, I was — not miffed — but I thought he played more and thought we should’ve got him in more. ... He’s taken a lot of steps forward.”

Coach Kevin O’Connell said Turner’s playing time should increase moving forward regardless of Van Ginkel’s availability.

“The jump that he is currently experiencing and will continue to experience will be highlighted clearly with Gink being out,” O’Connell said, “but we have viewed it from Day 1 as three potential starters” between Greenard, Van Ginkel and Turner.

Strib

Darrisaw, Okudah out; Smith questionable

Left tackle Christian Darrisaw and cornerback Jeff Okudah have been ruled out for Sunday night against Atlanta.

Darrisaw did not have a setback, O’Connell clarified, because he had been listed as questionable to play last week against the Bears.

O’Connell said that was only to allow Darrisaw to get his roughly 30-minute field workout before kickoff, which would not have been allowed if he had been ruled out.

Darrisaw will miss his second straight game to begin the season while he’s about 10½ months into his recovery from two torn ligaments in his left knee. Darrisaw said he still has “room for improvement” in his surgically-repaired knee.

“Just being in that environment, especially being on the road,” Darrisaw said. “I haven’t played in a game since October last year. It’s been a while since I’ve been in a stadium and that type of atmosphere. It definitely helped, but I’ve still got room for improvement in my knee.”

Okudah, who played 16 snaps in Chicago, suffered a concussion on the last play of the game. He returned to practice Friday on a limited basis, but will not play Sunday. The Vikings defense will also be without starting inside linebacker Blake Cashman, who was put on injured reserve Thursday. Running back Ty Chandler is out with a knee injury, also on IR.

Safety Harrison Smith is listed questionable after three consecutive limited practices this week. Smith has said conditioning is what’s keeping him from returning. He did not return to practice until Sept. 6 from a personal health matter that first led to him stepping away during training camp about a month ago.

For the Falcons, receiver Drake London (shoulder) has been cleared to play after limited practices this week. Receiver Darnell Mooney (shoulder) will also play after missing Atlanta’s Week 1 loss to Tampa Bay.

Strib

[img]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G0nrsqXWoAAAWvr?format=jpg&name=medium[/img]

purplefaithful wrote:
JJM should thank his god everyday for landing with KOC....Thats a good find Sticky.

I think he and his family pretty darn well knew the rose garden he fell into ;)  [video=youtube]https://youtu.be/0KgchI8D4fo[/video]

MAD GAINZ wrote:
Not having Darrisaw again and losing Gink this week will be tough.

F-cking Justin Skule again....argh. Time for Dallas to be a playmaker.

Last week it was Jj that went off

It'd be epic if it was Turner this week

I did notice Turner stack, shed, and make a couple tackles on the edge in the run game. If he's a complete player now, watch out...

StickierBuns wrote:
This is nuts to deal with if you are JJM: first game ever in the NFL on the road in Chicago on MNF, son born on Thursday of the next week and he has to prepare for ANOTHER prime time game in his big home debut where the fans are going to be nuts for him. Enough on a 22 year old kid's plate?? This is all in a 6 day period.

If this kid play's decently tomorrow, its pretty unbelievable. Movie-like.

Agree, I have been wondering how. a 22 year old could possibly balances all of this right now.  There is not a lot of time for NFL teams to prepare for the next game, usually Wednesday through Friday are you main practices so missing one of those days would be significant for a first year QB.  On top of that he is dealing with the whirlwind of having a kid, bringing him home and now living with a new born.  And you have all this attention on you of being player of the week, an amazing comeback and now your first home game on national TV.  

You are right all movie-like.  To me, it all feels like complete overwhelm and don't see how he can not be negatively affected by it all in terms of his performance Sunday, however for him, this could just be completely regular life, he is not the typical 22 year old, wise beyond his years, an old soul and all of this may be just the way he experiences life and the way he expects things to be.  64-3 since high school, two high school state championships and a national championship, a college national championship under the biggest lights.  All of this could just be just be something he takes in stride and he shows up Sunday and does what he does best on the field.  Would be amazing if he plays great, but for him what he expects.

Time for the top of the 24 draft to shine eh?!

I'm still processing the injury list this week, those are some key players out. ATL is healthy and got their WR's back this week to go with their all world RB.

No weeks are easy, but this one has me a little uneasy. I honestly felt better about the opener.

JR44 wrote:

Agree, I have been wondering how. a 22 year old could possibly balances all of this right now.  There is not a lot of time for NFL teams to prepare for the next game, usually Wednesday through Friday are you main practices so missing one of those days would be significant for a first year QB.  On top of that he is dealing with the whirlwind of having a kid, bringing him home and now living with a new born.  And you have all this attention on you of being player of the week, an amazing comeback and now your first home game on national TV.  

You are right all movie-like.  To me, it all feels like complete overwhelm and don't see how he can not be negatively affected by it all in terms of his performance Sunday, however for him, this could just be completely regular life, he is not the typical 22 year old, wise beyond his years, an old soul and all of this may be just the way he experiences life and the way he expects things to be.  64-3 since high school, two high school state championships and a national championship, a college national championship under the biggest lights.  All of this could just be just be something he takes in stride and he shows up Sunday and does what he does best on the field.  Would be amazing if he plays great, but for him what he expects.

He's been playing football all his life because he's good at it and loves the challenge. I am far more concerned about him not having time or the team not being able to run to the left side because of an exceptionally slow left tackle than his psychological condition. He's had a great week so far. I think he will rock in US bank stadium with a great atmosphere and crowd behind him. Yes it's a whirlwind of a life. I think it is just the life he wished for. He's a lucky guy!

This is nuts to deal with if you are JJM: first game ever in the NFL on the road in Chicago on MNF, son born on Thursday of the next week and he has to prepare for ANOTHER prime time game in his big home debut where the fans are going to be nuts for him. Enough on a 22 year old kid's plate?? This is all in a 6 day period.

If this kid play's decently tomorrow, its pretty unbelievable. Movie-like.

The good thing about the injuries, if there is one, is that both Okudah and Gink are concussions so they should be back next week. And if there's one position where we can afford an injury, it's Edge. Turner will move into that slot and we shouldn't miss a bit. The next two up are Bo Richter and Chazz Chambliss. We'll probably see one or both of those guys too. Corner was the position where we could least afford an injury, so the front seven will have to get home against a very good Falcons OL.

Darrisaw out again hurts, but ESPN ranked the Falcons edge rushers 28th in the NFL. Hopefully Skule can do a better job against this group than he did against the Bears.

I think JJ will be fine. He did miss a big day of practice on a short week, so that will affect the offense. But I think he has the chops to deal with it, the football IQ to get up to speed.

Darrisaw must be close because he wasn't put on the short term IR. I would expect him back next week.

greediron wrote:
I think JJ will be fine.  He did miss a big day of practice on a short week, so that will affect the offense.  But I think he has the chops to deal with it, the football IQ to get up to speed.

Darrisaw must be close because he wasn't put on the short term IR.  I would expect him back next week.

This was his quote yesterday:

"I’ve still got room for improvement in my knee.”

I dont know if this means one, two or 3 weeks? The fact they didnt IR him means they're betting on not 4. 

A key tell will obviously be if they take him to Europe for 2 weeks (or not.)

purplefaithful wrote:

This was his quote yesterday:

"I’ve still got room for improvement in my knee.”

I dont know if this means one, two or 3 weeks? The fact they didnt IR him means they're betting on not 4. 

A key tell will obviously be if they take him to Europe for 2 weeks (or not.)

Darrisaw had a day of full practice followed 2 days of limited practice before being ruled out. KO said he didn't have a set back, but Darrisaw's statement makes me wonder. 
 
Okudah only played 16 snaps Monday and didn't seem improved to me. I think his back up is Nudie. This could end up being addition by subtraction if Nudie plays well.

hogjowlsjohnny wrote:

Darrisaw had a day of full practice followed 2 days of limited practice before being ruled out. KO said he didn't have a set back, but Darrisaw's statement makes me wonder. 
 
Okudah only played 16 snaps Monday and didn't seem improved to me. I think his back up is Nudie. This could end up being addition by subtraction if Nudie plays well.

I suspect swelling/soreness when he does a full court test on it...Either way, he aint ready. 

Like I said, a big tell will be if he makes the trip to Europe (or not)

purplefaithful wrote:
Time for the top of the 24 draft to shine eh?! I'm still processing the injury list this week, those are some key players out. ATL is healthy and got their WR's back this week to go with their all world RB. No weeks are easy, but this one has me a little uneasy. I honestly felt better about the opener.

Lots of injuries already this year for most teams, hell even in college football. No excuses, next man up!

Interesting that this will only be Michael Penix's 2nd road game in his career as a starter. His first was late last year at Washington. Falcons lost. Penix wasn't particularly good in that one. And playing in DC is nothing at all like playing at the Bank.

MaroonBells wrote:
Interesting that this will only be Michael Penix's 2nd road game in his career as a starter. His first was late last year at Washington. Falcons lost. Penix wasn't particularly good in that one. And playing in DC is nothing at all like playing at the Bank.

I wouldnt have guessed that. 

I have a sneaking suspicion the energy will be quite high tonight lol...

Wish I was going to be there dang-it. Bengals game too.

Just noticed Mike Hughes is starting for them, we better be able to pass all over them if he is a starter on their defense. See Xavier Watts is starting for them also, really wanted us to get draft him, they took him 6 spots in front of us taking Felton. They don't seem to have that great of a defense.