The Minnesota Vikings were hoping to get players healthy during the bye week, but instead they are down more players as they head into a Week 6 battle against the Kansas City Chiefs. Currently 2-2 on the season, the Vikings are trying to start getting some momentum as their offense has yet to match the dominating performance of their defense. Losing wide receivers to injuries is not going to help the cause as Mike Wallace is the latest victim.
According to ESPN's Ben Goessling, Wallace was not at practice on Monday for what head coach Mike Zimmer said was for reasons he "can't disclose." Zimmer would only say "we'll see" when he was asked if Wallace would be playing in Week 6 which is raising some eyebrows about the receiver's status. Wallace is coming off one of his best weeks with the Vikings after putting up 83 yards and a touchdown off eight passes against the Denver Broncos.
The absence of Wallace is concerning considering Charles Johnson has also been missing practice with a rib injury. He along with Jarius Wright was hampered over the past two weeks. As the Vikings enter a very critical stretch for the team's playoff chances, they need everyone healthy. With Johnson and Wallace limited, Stefon Diggs and Kyle Rudolph will be relied upon heavily. Even with the injuries, Cordarrelle Patterson is not expected to get many looks as the Pioneer Press continues to hint that a mid-season trade might be the best option for the receiver and the Vikings. General manager Rick Spielman continues to try and remain in Patterson's corner, but for how long?
"He's made so many strides since a year ago and he continues to make strides," Spielman said, via ESPN.com. "As these coaches evaluated our personnel, the one thing Zim always preaches is team comes first before any stats. As our guys are learning these players, they have a pretty good feel but they're still, you know, 'What are we?' Because now you have an Adrian Peterson in your backfield. With Cordarrelle, you can't ask for a kid that's working as hard as he can."
Right now, the Vikings are capitalizing off the return of Adrian Peterson as he takes the pressure off Teddy Bridgewater. The team's defense is also looking like a complete unit. The Vikings upcoming schedule is very soft and if they can take advantage of it they could emerge as playoff threats.