The Minnesota Vikings are hoping that they have a full offense when they take the field against the Kansas City Chiefs. Injuries have plagued the team coming out of the bye week as they wide receiver corps could be seriously depleted in Week 6. Head coach Mike Zimmer remains optimistic that despite all of the absences in practice, everyone will be back by Sunday.
All eyes are on Charles Johnson and Mike Wallace heading into Sunday. Both wide receivers have been dealing with injuries that have kept them off the field all week. Wallace got banged up in the Week 4 loss to the Denver Broncos while Johnson suffered a rib injury in the same game. Both wide receivers are critical to keeping Teddy Bridgewater successful and Zimmer is keeping his fingers crossed. Meanwhile, Wallace is confident that if one or more players are down, someone will step up.
"Honestly, I felt like that the whole time since I've been here: We have some underrated guys that can play," Wallace said, via ESPN.com. "I feel comfortable they'd make just about any team in the league. The guys who aren't playing, you've just got to cheer them on. All six of us, I feel like every one of us can play football on any team in the NFL."
Jarius Wright returned to the lineup which is positive for the Vikings. If Johnson or Wallace were out, Stefon Diggs is next in line to take a starting spot. The rookie has been turning heads and making the most of his chances when getting on the field. He has been a solid receiver and special teams player as he takes the place of Cordarrelle Patterson.
According to the Pioneer Press, the Vikings are not actively looking to trade Patterson in-season, but if a call were to come they would pick up the phone. Patterson has simply dropped off the map this season. The wide receiver has not done much of anything. In fact ESPN's Adam Caplan reports that Adam Thielen would take his place if both Johnson and Wallace were out in Week 6. Patterson is simply expendable at this time for the Vikings.
With the run game working so well, the Vikings might be able to get away with a top receiver out a game. Adrian Peterson continues to be the balancing force of the offense and will be relied upon heavily going forward. If either Johnson or Wallace miss the game, the run game will see more action.
