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Vikings LB Eric Kendricks talks about his Week 15 ejection

Vikings LB Eric Kendricks talked about his fourth quarter hit on Bears QB Justin Fields.

Vikings LB Eric Kendricks did not have a good Monday.

Kendricks, arguably the best off-ball linebacker in the league, was snubbed from the 2022 Pro Bowl. He also had an uncharacteristically down game for him on Monday night.

Kendricks tallied seven tackles and two missed tackles, per PFF. In the fourth quarter, the linebacker tried to prevent Bears QB Justin Fields from picking up a first down with his feet. Fields slid past the first-down marker and Kendricks lowered his shoulder to make the hit. The two collided and Kendricks ended up ejected from the game for the hit.

The Vikings linebacker talked about that play on Wednesday:

“I didn’t know what to do. I’ve gotten penalties called on me in a game that I count on one hand that were not penalties,” Kendricks said. “I pride myself on playing clean, pride myself on being on point. It’s definitely something I didn’t want to happen, but it happened and I kind of didn’t know what to do.”

Here is the play:

In the end, it didn’t matter. The Bears scored one more time to fall to the Vikings 17-9. Minnesota moved to 7-7 with the Week 15 victory.

Vikings place DT Dalvin Tomlinson on Reserve/COVID-19

The Vikings placed DT Dalvin Tomlinson on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, the team announced Tuesday.

Once again, the Vikings have to deal with the absence of a key player due to COVID-19 protocol.

Minnesota placed DT Dalvin Tomlinson on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, the team announced on Tuesday. Tomlinson, the Vikings’ starting three-technique defensive tackle, has started all 10 games in 2021.

For Minnesota, this is a significant loss. With Michael Pierce still not healthy, the Vikings will have to hope Armon Watts, Sheldon Richardson, James Lynch and others step up in the absence of key players on the interior.

Tomlinson’s presence in the pass rush shouldn’t be too missed, but without both him and Pierce, the Vikings defense should have a harder time stopping the run.  Watts already seemed capable of moving into the starting lineup full time, at least.

Minnesota wasn’t done there.

The Vikings activated G Dakota Dozier from the Practice Squad Reserve/COVID-19. Also, Minnesota has released FB Garrett Groshek and C Spencer Pulley from the practice squad.

The Vikings also protected DT T.Y. McGill, DE Kenny Willekes and safety Myles Dorn on the practice squad this week.

In addition to Tomlinson, the Vikings have two players from either the active roster or practice squad on COVID-19/Reserve.

Report: Vikings expected to hire Karl Scott as the team’s defensive backs coach

The Minnesota Vikings are hiring Karl Scott, who finished up his third season as the Alabama Crimson Tide’s cornerbacks coach.

Minnesota has seen a mass exodus of staff members this offseason. According to a report, the Vikings have gone about filling another one of the voids.

Per AL.com’s Matt Zenitz, Minnesota is expected to hire Karl Scott to be the Vikings’ new defensive backs coach. Scott was Alabama’s cornerbacks coach. He had just finished up his third year with the Crimson Tide.

The move comes after the Vikings saw former defensive backs coach Daronte Jones leave to be LSU’s next defensive coordinator. Minnesota hired Jones in 2020. He had worked in the NFL for the past five seasons.

Defensive backs are an important position for the Vikings. Once a staple of the Minnesota defense, the unit has been filled by younger, more inexperienced players who need to make great strides in 2021. Scott will be tasked with helping cornerbacks like Cameron Dantzler and Jeff Gladney improve in their second seasons.

Minnesota still has an open offensive coordinator spot. See the recent news on that position here.