Vikings injury report: Jordan Addison, Christian McCaffrey out for Sunday’s game
Both the Vikings and the 49ers will be without a major offensive weapon on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Vikings: Wide receiver Jordan Addison is out for Sunday’s game against the 49ers after missing practice all week because of a right ankle injury sustained against the Giants last Sunday. Receiver Trishton Jackson is expected to be called up from the practice squad to give Kevin O’Connell more options. Read more on Addison’s injury.
Guard Ed Ingram (triceps), right tackle Brian O’Neill (elbow) and safety Harrison Smith (hip) are listed as questionable for the 49ers game. Linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, who was limited in practices this week, and center Garrett Bradbury carry no injury designation and will be available to play Sunday.
49ers: Running back Christian McCaffrey was a game-time decision last week, but San Francisco ruled him out on Friday for the Vikings game because of calf and Achilles issues that have bothered him for weeks. Coach Kyle Shanahan said the team was considering putting McCaffrey on injured reserve. Meanwhile, safety Talanoa Hufanga (knee) is listed as doubtful and linebacker Dee Winters (ankle) is questionable.
Left guard Aaron Banks (finger, calf), wide receiver Jauan Jennings (ankle) and defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) were full participants in practice and carry no injury designation into the game after being limited earlier in the week.
Thursday, Sept. 12
Vikings: Safety Harrison Smith was notably absent from the start of Thursday’s practice. Afterward, the team listed the 35-year-old defender as being held out due to a hip injury. The timing of Smith’s injury indicates the issue arose after Wednesday’s practice, when he wasn’t listed on the report. He played 68 defensive snaps in Sunday’s win against the Giants.
Receiver Jordan Addison also remained absent. He also missed Wednesday’s practice due to an ankle injury suffered in the third quarter against the Giants.
Good news for the Vikings is outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, who had an interception returned for a touchdown in New York, returned to practice. He was limited due to a lingering foot injury.
Right tackle Brian O’Neill (elbow) and center Garrett Bradbury (knee) were also limited.
49ers: Running back Christian McCaffrey was again limited with a sore calf and Achilles. Also limited were safety Talanoa Hufanga (knee), left guard Aaron Banks (finger, calf) and wide receiver Jauan Jennings (ankle). Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) and linebacker Dee Winters (ankle) were listed as limited after missing practice Wednesday.
Wednesday, Sept. 11
Vikings: Receiver Jordan Addison and outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel were held out of Wednesday’s practice after injuries sustained or aggravated in Sunday’s win against the Giants. Van Ginkel is listed with a foot issue, which is also what kept him out of spring practices. He suffered the injury in last year’s season finale with the Dolphins. Coach Kevin O’Connell said after Sunday’s game that Van Ginkel “should be fine.”
Addison sustained a second ankle injury during a catch in the third quarter. O’Connell said Monday that Addison would be limited at best this week. He had just returned from an Aug. 14 high ankle sprain to the other ankle.
“I don’t know that you replace Jordan,” coordinator Wes Phillips said Tuesday. “He’s a really good football player and only continuing to get better. But have a lot of confidence in those other guys that will step up. Jalen Nailor, I’ve always thought highly of him. He’s had a couple unfortunate things in his first couple years that have kept him out of some games and maybe kept him from progressing.”
Nailor is preparing for his second NFL start against the 49ers. Center Garrett Bradbury (knee) was listed as limited.
49ers: All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey was limited in practice after missing San Francisco’s 32-19 season-opening win over the Jets because of a sore calf and Achilles tendon, which also kept him out of the last four weeks of training camp.
“My mentality is I’m playing this week and that’s where I’m at,” McCaffrey told reporters, according to the Associated Press. “That’s how I am every week. I’m not lying. I think as soon as a player says, ‘Maybe I’ll play, maybe I won’t,’ that’s not a good mentality to go into a week with when you’re kind of on the fence.”
Also listed as limited for the 49ers Wednesday were safety Talanoa Hufanga (knee), left guard Aaron Banks (finger, calf) and wide receiver Jauan Jennings (ankle). Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) and linebacker Dee Winters (ankle) didn’t practice.
The Vikings let go of one of the few remaining players from their 2022 NFL draft class on Saturday morning, cutting cornerback Akayleb Evans after his role on defense had dissolved. He could return to the practice squad.