Thursday Night Football will feature the Minnesota Vikings taking on the LA Chargers for Week 8. Both teams are pretty banged up, as the injury bug bit both of them hard, with both teams missing some very key players.
Minnesota Vikings Injury Report
JJ McCarthy – Questionable
The Vikings QB1 may possibly miss taking on his former college coach’s new team, as he has been missing action since Week 2 with a high ankle sprain. With the Vikings getting hit hard with the injury bug, getting their QB1 back could lift morale bigtime.
Andrew Van Ginkel – Out
Van Ginkle is a starting linebacker for the Vikings, but he will be missing Thursday game due to a neck injury.
Aaron Jones Sr. – Questionable
Jones has been activated off the injured reserve and has been practicing fully. However, this is not a guarantee of his return, with the team still waiting to see if he is actually healthy enough to return.
Los Angeles Chargers Injury Report
Hassan Haskins – Out
Haskins will not be playing against the Vikings due to a hamstring injury, with the Chargers elevating some players from the practice squad to compensate for his absence.
Omarion Hampton – Injured Reserve
Hampton has been relegated to the IR due to an ankle injury and is not expected to return any time soon.
Joe Alt – Questionable
Left tackle Joe Alt is also suffering from an ankle injury, but his is not as serious, with Alt himself saying that he would be playing on Thursday.
Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Chargers Depth Chart
Minnesota Vikings Depth Chart
| Starter | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | |
| QB | J.J. McCarthy Q | Carson Wentz | Max Brosmer | – |
| RB | Jordan Mason | Zavier Scott Q | Aaron Jones Sr. IR | Ty Chandler IR |
| WR | Justin Jefferson | Adam Thielen | Rondale Moore IR | – |
| WR | Jordan Addison | Tai Felton | – | – |
| WR | Jalen Nailor | Myles Price | – | – |
| TE | T.J. Hockenson | Josh Oliver | Ben Yurosek | Gavin Bartholomew O |
| FB | C.J. Ham O | – | – | – |
| LT | Christian Darrisaw Q | Justin Skule | – | – |
| LG | Donovan Jackson | Joe Huber | – | – |
| C | Michael Jurgens | Blake Brandel | Ryan Kelly IR | Zeke Correll IR |
| RG | Will Fries | Joe Huber | – | – |
| RT | Brian O’Neill Q | Justin Skule | Walter Rouse | Matt Nelson IR |
| LDE | Jonathan Allen | Levi Drake Rodriguez | – | – |
| NT | Jalen Redmond | – | – | – |
| RDE | Javon Hargrave | Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins | Elijah Williams | – |
| WLB | Jonathan Greenard | Chaz Chambliss | Tyler Batty | – |
| LILB | Blake Cashman | Austin Keys | – | – |
| RILB | Eric Wilson | Ivan Pace Jr. | Kobe King | Bo Richter |
| SLB | Andrew Van Ginkel O | Dallas Turner | – | – |
| LCB | Isaiah Rodgers | Jeff Okudah | – | – |
| SS | Joshua Metellus | – | – | – |
| FS | Harrison Smith | Jay Ward | – | – |
| RCB | Byron Murphy Jr. | Dwight McGlothern | – | – |
| NB | Theo Jackson | Tavierre Thomas | – | – |
| PK | Will Reichard | – | – | – |
| P | Ryan Wright | – | – | – |
| H | Ryan Wright | – | – | – |
| PR | Myles Price | Adam Thielen | – | – |
| KR | Myles Price | Tai Felton | Ty Chandler IR | – |
| LS | Andrew DePaola | – | – | – |
LA Chargers Depth Chart
| Starter | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | |
| QB | Justin Herbert | Trey Lance | – | – |
| RB | Kimani Vidal | Hassan Haskins O | Omarion Hampton IR | Najee Harris IR |
| WR | Ladd McConkey | Tre’ Harris | – | – |
| WR | Keenan Allen | Derius Davis | – | – |
| WR | Quentin Johnston | KeAndre Lambert-Smith | – | – |
| TE | Oronde Gadsden II | Tucker Fisk | Will Dissly | Tyler Conklin |
| FB | Scott Matlock | – | – | – |
| LT | Joe Alt Q | Austin Deculus Q | Foster Sarell | Jamaree Salyer Q |
| LG | Zion Johnson | – | – | – |
| C | Bradley Bozeman | Andre James | – | – |
| RG | Mekhi Becton | Jamaree Salyer Q | – | – |
| RT | Trey Pipkins III Q | Bobby Hart | Foster Sarell | Savion Washington O |
| LDE | Justin Eboigbe | Scott Matlock | Da’Shawn Hand IR | – |
| NT | Teair Tart | Jamaree Caldwell Q | – | – |
| RDE | Naquan Jones | Otito Ogbonnia IR | Josh Fuga IR | – |
| WLB | Tuli Tuipulotu | Kyle Kennard | – | – |
| LILB | Daiyan Henley | Marlowe Wax | Junior Colson IR | – |
| RILB | Denzel Perryman | Troy Dye Q | Del’Shawn Phillips | – |
| SLB | Khalil Mack | Odafe Oweh | Bud Dupree | – |
| LCB | Donte Jackson | Nikko Reed | Deane Leonard IR | Jordan Oladokun IR |
| SS | Derwin James Jr. | Tony Jefferson | – | – |
| FS | Elijah Molden Q | RJ Mickens | Kendall Williamson | – |
| RCB | Cam Hart | Benjamin St-Juste | Eric Rogers IR | – |
| NB | Tarheeb Still | Ja’Sir Taylor | – | – |
| PK | Cameron Dicker | – | – | – |
| P | JK Scott | – | – | – |
| H | JK Scott | – | – | – |
| PR | Derius Davis | Ladd McConkey | KeAndre Lambert-Smith | – |
| KR | Derius Davis | KeAndre Lambert-Smith | Hassan Haskins O | – |
| LS | Rick Lovato | Josh Harris IR | – | – |
Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Prediction
Both teams may be banged up, but the game is happening at SoFi Stadium, the Chargers’ home field, which means that they have the home advantage. Oddsmakes agree, as BetMGM Sportsbook has them as the -3.5 favorites. With these factors, and the Chargers’ Justin Herbert continuing to play well, it should go the way of Los Angeles, but it will be close.
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