Michael Pierce has made a strong impact in his first active season as the Vikings’ nose tackle. However, he had to leave the game in Week 4, and now he could be looking at a long absence.
According to Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune, Pierce could be out a while with the elbow injury he suffered in last week’s game.
That’s a blow to the Vikings defensive line unit, but it’s not dire, due to the depth the team has there. Although, the Vikings’ most-obvious move to make is one that Mike Zimmer said the team will not do:
Minnesota could move Dalvin Tomlinson over to the nose tackle spot, his primary position before this year. Then, Sheldon Richardson can slot in at the three-technique defensive tackle position. But Zimmer already said they wouldn’t do that, per The Athletic’s Chad Graff. Maybe the Vikings head coach isn’t showing his cards before a must-win or maybe he likes someone better at the three-technique spot.
Though Dalvin Cook is not 100%, the Vikings running back is planning on playing through an ankle injury. Cook said that “part of the game is playing through pain,” per ESPN’s Courtney Cronin.
Cook will be a big boost, but if he ends up being unavailable, expect fellow running backs Alexander Mattison and Ameer Abdullah to step up. Minnesota can also use Kene Nwangwu if he ends up being healthy enough to play.