Dj Wonnum News Today

When coaches find new digs, they often bring in former players to help lead in the new system.

The Minnesota Vikings were enjoying the rarity of a dominant afternoon in Green Bay two months ago, continuing their ascent from an early hole while Packers quarterback Jordan Love's struggles persisted. Then came the step gone wrong by Kirk Cousins on the Lambeau Field grass. The Vikings have switched quarterbacks four times — this week back to rookie Jaren Hall — and been stuck in a constant mode of plugging in new starters for injured players all over the field.

The Minnesota Vikings have ruled starting cornerback Byron Murphy out of their pivotal game against Green Bay because of a knee injury. Murphy did not practice this week after missing the previous game against Detroit.

Packers S Darnell Savage (shoulder) has sat out two straight games and practiced on a limited basis this week. LB De'Vondre Campbell (neck) also didn't play last week against the Panthers and has not practiced this week. NT T.J. Slaton (knee/foot) didn't practice Thursday.

The Minnesota Vikings have had their share of major injuries this season, including to star receiver Justin Jefferson and quarterback Kirk Cousins. Injuries continue to mount as Minnesota tries to stay in the playoff picture. Coach Kevin O’Connell announced Tuesday that tight end T.J. Hockenson and linebacker D.J. Wonnum will miss the rest of the season.

The Vikings' playoff hopes might have taken a big hit following a brutal injury update for linebacker D.J. Wonnum

The Minnesota Vikings defense has some standouts and the Pro Football Focus grades showcase that

Justin Fields dropped back out of the shotgun and rolled to his left to avoid the pressure even though he had DJ Moore open in the middle. Instead of a third-down completion early in the third quarter, the Chicago Bears quarterback got sacked by Minnesota's Danielle Hunter. The Bears went on to lose 19-13 to the Vikings after stopping a 14-game slide the previous week.

After many of his teammates had showered, dressed and left the stadium, Bryce Young sat motionless in front of his locker still in full uniform staring straight ahead while pondering another Carolina Panthers defeat. The normally upbeat, happy-go-lucky Young was subdued as he spoke from behind a podium about unfamiliar territory. The Panthers are now 0-4, a losing trend the QB never experienced at Mater Dei High School or at the University of Alabama, where he was 23-4 as a starter.

For all the firepower the Minnesota Vikings possess on offense, the straightest path to their first victory was always going to travel through the defense. The maligned group delivered when the Vikings needed it, fueling a comeback at Carolina that removed the team from the dreaded winless list. The highlights, even against a winless and rebuilding Panthers club starting a rookie quarterback, were impressive.