*Mackensie Alexander – Noteworthy
CB Mackensie Alexander has split time with first-round pick Mike Hughes this season, but Alexander’s role should grow with Hughes out for the season with a torn ACL in his left knee. Alexander played much of Sunday’s game, including the first snaps for anyone, in the nickel back spot. “He’s been more disciplined in coverage, I guess that’s the best way to say it,” head coach Mike Zimmer said of his improvement. “I think he understands things so much better now, being there. Sometimes these young guys have a hard time moving around to different spots, so I think it’s just good to settle things down.”
*Stephen Weatherly – Noteworthy – Injury
DE Stephen Weatherly was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice with a rib injury. Weatherly has started the past four games with Everson Griffen away from the team tending to a mental-health issue.
Adam Thielen – Noteworthy
WR Adam Thielen continued his record-setting start last week by catching 11 passes for 123 yards. Thielen has 58 receptions this season, the most by any player in NFL history through the first six games of the season. Thielen’s 712 receiving yards is tied for the third-most for a player through the first six games of a season. It’s the highest total in the league this season and a Vikings’ record through six games. He’s had three games with at least 10 catches this season, just one shy of Cris Carter for the most in a single season in team history. Thielen’s six games with 100 receiving yards is two behind Randy Moss for the most in a single season in team history, a feat Moss accomplished twice. “He’s one of the best in the league right now,” Jets head coach Todd Bowles said of Thielen.
Andrew Sendejo – Noteworthy – Injury
S Andrew Sendejo was still out as Minnesota returned to practice on Wednesday. Sendejo missed last week’s game with a groin injury. George Iloka started in Sendejo’s place and the Vikings used a rotation at safety and nickel that included Iloka, Jayron Kearse and Anthony Harris.
Dalvin Cook – Noteworthy – Injury
RB Dalvin Cook was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice, a good sign after the second-year back has missed three of the past four games with a hamstring injury. Cook practiced full last Thursday but was limited again last Friday. He was listed as questionable for the game and head coach Mike Zimmer said he was “close” to returning, but the team opted to play it safe with Cook. Latavius Murray started in Cook’s place last week and ran for a career-high 155 yards against Arizona.
Danielle Hunter – Noteworthy
DE Danielle Hunter is streaking. Hunter is the only player in the NFL to record a sack in every game he’s played this season. Hunter begins the week tied with Houston’s J.J. Watt for the lead in sacks with seven and tied with Indianapolis defensive end Margus Hunt for the league lead with nine tackles for loss. “I think Danielle can play a million plays if he wanted to,” head coach Mike Zimmer said. “He is 22 or something and he is built like Adonis.”
David Parry – Noteworthy
DT David Parry was re-signed this week as CB Mike Hughes was placed on injured reserve. Parry made the Vikings’ roster out of training camp this season and played in two games, notching a sack in Week 2 against Green Bay. Parry was released when defensive tackle Tom Johnson returned to Minnesota after being released by Seattle.
Everson Griffen – Noteworthy
DE Everson Griffen won’t return to the team this week as he continues to deal with a mental-health issue. Griffen, a three-time Pro Bowl player, will miss his fifth straight game.
Latavius Murray – Noteworthy
RB Latavius Murray is coming off a career-high 155 yards rushing against Arizona last week. Murray, starting in place of the inactive Dalvin Cook, had 24 carries and four rushes of at least 20 yards for Minnesota’s best rushing output of the season. Entering last week’s game, the Vikings were second-to-last in the league in rushing, while Arizona had the league’s second-worst run defense. New York is 17th in the league in run defense, giving up 108.7 yards per game.
Linval Joseph – Noteworthy – Injury
DT Linval Joseph was held out of practice on Wednesday as the team got back to work in preparation for Sunday’s game in New York. Joseph was listed with ankle, knee and shoulder injuries on the injury report. Joseph missed one snap last week due to injury but came back in the game. Without Joseph, Minnesota might have to turn to second-year tackle Jaleel Johnson and the recently re-signed David Parry.
Mike Hughes – Noteworthy – Injury – Transaction
CB Mike Hughes, the No. 30 overall pick in this year’s draft, was officially placed on injured reserve and he will miss the rest of the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee. It’s the second straight season Minnesota has lost its top draft pick to an ACL tear. Last year, running back Dalvin Cook sustained the injury in Week 4. “For a young guy, he was real professional about everything,” head coach Mike Zimmer said. “Studied hard, asked good questions. Never afraid to ask anything. Not afraid to compete. A lot of times it’s just learning the speed of the game and trying to understand the concepts and coverage and things like that.”
Riley Reiff – Noteworthy – Injury
LT Riley Reiff missed Wednesday’s practice with his ongoing foot injury. Reiff missed Sunday’s game leading to Rashod Hill switching from right tackle to start on the left side and rookie Brian O’Neill making his first start at right tackle.
Sheldon Richardson – Noteworthy
DT Sheldon Richardson is preparing to play his former team but isn’t getting involved in any talk with the Jets, who were his team through his first four NFL seasons. “Another game,” Richardson said Wednesday. “Not putting myself above the team. Whatever personal vendetta I have is between me.” Richardson didn’t get into any reasons for a vendetta. He made one Pro Bowl appearance for New York but was traded to Seattle in 2017. “In the Rex (Ryan) regime, I was doing pretty good for the most part, making a name for myself in the league,” Richardson said. “After that, you know, just kind of self-inflicted wounds and just me not overcoming my own personal battles in life. They got me out of there and they changed everything around there. That’s pretty much it.”
Tashawn Bower – Noteworthy – Injury
DE Tashawn Bower practiced in full on Wednesday as he makes his return from an ankle injury. Bower has missed the past two games with the injury, leaving Minnesota thin at defensive end with Everson Griffen away from the team. Rookie defensive tackle Jalyn Holmes has taken snaps at end.