When the Minnesota Vikings take on the New Orleans Saints Sunday night, they’ll once again be without starting running back Dalvin Cook.
However, as noted by Andrew Krammer of the Star-Tribune, defensive end Everson Griffen is expected to play after missing the past five games while taking time off for mental health reasons.
#Vikings injury report:
OUT: LB Anthony Barr, RB Dalvin Cook, S Andrew Sendejo and G Tom Compton.
DOUBTFUL: LT Riley Reiff
QUESTIONABLE: CB Xavier Rhodes, NT Linval Joseph
Everson Griffen is expected to play.
— Andrew Krammer (@Andrew_Krammer) October 26, 2018
Courtney Cronin of ESPN provided a bit more detail about Griffen’s expected return.
This is what is listed about Everson Griffen on the team’s release related to the injury report. All signs pointing to him being active for Sunday’s game and expecting to play since he was not on the injury report. pic.twitter.com/BiCdK2kfq9
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) October 26, 2018
Cook has been out of commission the past three games, and four of the last five, dealing with a hamstring injury. It’s been reported he’ll likely sit out until Week 11 healing up from this nagging injury.
Earlier on Friday, head coach Mike Zimmer had told reporters he had not yet decided whether Griffen would play. On Wednesday, after Griffen had rejoined the Vikings, he shared his thoughts on being back with the team.
“This is bigger than football,” Griffen said Wednesday. “This is all part of the process. We’ve got a good group of individuals in place — the Minnesota Vikings, myself, my doctors, my family. We’ve got a plan in place. We’re going to execute the plan day in and day out. We’re going to stay on top of it. That’s our goal.”
Griffen recently underwent an evaluation, and was cleared, for his mental health after a rash of instances in which he exhibited troubling behavior.