We’re a little less than ninety minutes ahead of kickoff at U.S. Bank Stadium for this Sunday Night Football matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and our Minnesota Vikings. That means it’s time to take a look at who will be sitting out of tonight’s contest, as both teams have released their inactive lists. Let’s see who will be watching from the sidelines in street clothes this evening.
The Vikings enter this Sunday night's game against the Colts with a solid record of 5-2 but that's only good for third place in the highly-competitive NFC North. Minnesota needs to dispatch Indianapolis at home if they want to stay in the hunt for a division title.
The Colts have been dealing with quarterback drama most of the week which puts his future with the franchise that drafted him in jeopardy. That long-term status won't be a major issue for Shane Steichen and his staff on Sunday Night. Instead, they will remain laser-focused on trying to knock off the Vikings on the road.
As always, injuries will play a major part in the game as each side enters the meat of their regular-season slate. Fans of both teams should keep a close eye on the players listed below heading into the primetime matchup.
Colts Inactives
Indianapolis announced the following players will be inactive:
- Quarterback Sam Ehlinger (third quarterback)
- Receiver Anthony Gould
- Tackle Bernhard Raimann
- Defensive end Genard Avery
- Defensive tackle Adam Gotsis
Reimann is the Colts’ starting left tackle, meaning that they will start rookie Matt Goncalves at left tackle this evening. He’s played exactly three snaps on offense this season, so I’m guessing that he’s going to get well acquainted with Jonathan Greenard tonight.
Vikings Inactives
- Quarterback Brett Rypien (third quarterback)
- Cornerback Akayleb Evans
- Cornerback Dwight McGlothern
- Linebacker Blake Cashman
- Offensive lineman Dan Feeney
- Tackle Walter Rouse
The list of players is similar to Minnesota's inactives for Week 8, but there are a couple of differences. Guard Dalton Risner was activated from Injured Reserve on Saturday, so Feeney, who has only played on special teams so far, is inactive for the first time in 2024. Undrafted rookie Levi Drake Rodriguez will be active for the first time, a day after Minnesota placed fellow first-year defensive lineman Taki Taimani on Injured Reserve. Rypien is again Minnesota's emergency quarterback and is eligible to play if the Vikings suffer injuries to starter Sam Darnold and backup Nick Mullens. Evans (hip) and Cashman (toe) are out for the third consecutive game. McGlothern and Rouse are inactive for the eighth consecutive game.
Taki Taimani is not listed among the inactives because the team placed him on injured reserve on Saturday. Rookie defensive lineman Levi Drake Rodriguez is active for the first time this season and will be making his NFL debut tonight.
Key Injuries to Watch
Minnesota Vikings
Name | Position | Injury | Status
---|---|---|--- Blake Cashman | LB | Toe | Out Taki Taimani | DL | Ankle | Out Akayleb Evans | CB | Hip | Questionable Dalton Risner | OL | Back | Questionable Stephon Gilmore | CB | Unspecified | Questionable T.J. Hockenson | TE | Knee | Questionable Theo Jackson | S | Hand | Questionable Josh Oliver | TE | Wrist | Questionable David Quessenberry | T | Knee | Questionable
Blake Cashman's absence is a big issue for the Vikings. He's arguably the team's top linebacker and they will miss him as they try to stifle the Colts' run game. Dalton Risner's possible absence is also a concern for Minnesota. If he can't go they will his versatility up front.
The good news for Minnesota is that T.J. Hockenson should be good to go this week. He'll add some much-needed explosiveness to their passing game. Veteran cornerback missed some practice this week but he should be ready to play when the game kicks off as well.
Indianapolis Colts
Name | Position | Injury | Status
---|---|---|--- Genard Avery | DE | Foot | Questionable Josh Downs | WR | Toe | Questionable Ryan Kelly | C | Calf, Knee | Questionable Chris Lammons | DB | Finger | Questionable Kwity Paye | DE | Hamstring | Questionable Bernhard Raimann | T | Concussion | Out Michael Pittman | WR | Back | Questionable Braden Smith | T | Knee | Questionable Anthony Richardson | QB | Left wrist, left shoulder | Questionable
Richardson appears on the injury report but he's expected to be active as the team's backup. The biggest question the Colts face on offense is whether or not Michael Pittman will be cleared to play. It's hard to envision a scenario where Flacco can effectively push the ball down the field without the big-bodied wide receiver.
On defense, Kwity Paye's status is a huge issue for the Colts. They need to pressure Sam Darnold if they want to slow down the Vikings' passing game. Paye can win his one-on-one matchups and will be sorely missed if he's forced to miss this one.
Colts Will Need to Find a Way to Slow Down Vikings Offense
The Vikings enter the game with a balanced offense and their strength is their passing attack. They are averaging 251 passing yards per game, led by quarterback Sam Darnold. With the Colts missing their starting left tackle and a handful of key defensive pieces, they will need to find a way to pressure Darnold and disrupt their rhythm. If they can't do that, it could be a long night for the Colts defense.
Colts Will Be Hoping for a Strong Defensive Performance
The Colts' defense has been playing well this season. They are allowing just 19.9 points per game. They've shown they can get after the quarterback, having registered 23 sacks this season, while also limiting the opposing running game. However, this will be a big test for the defense, against a team with a strong offense. The Vikings should be ready for a showdown against the Colts, both teams need a win in this game to stay in the playoff hunt.
Final Thoughts
The Colts and Vikings are both looking to make a statement in this game. The Vikings are trying to prove that they are a true contender in the NFC, while the Colts are trying to show that they are still a force to be reckoned with in the AFC. This should be a close game. Both teams have a lot of talent on the field, but the Vikings have been playing more consistently this season. They are the slight favorites in this game, but the Colts will be ready to pull off an upset.
