Following Thursday’s practice, safety Harrison Smith and wide receiver Justin Jefferson of the Vikings talked about running back Ty Chandler filling in for Alexander Mattison, taking on the Lions on Christmas Eve, and receiver Jordan Addison’s development this season.
Sam LaPorta, a tight end, scored a career-high three touchdown catches last week. He is a Lion to watch. The only players in history with at least 70 catches, 750 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns through their first 14 games of play are the Iowa rookie and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
Only two rookie tight ends in NFL history have scored more touchdowns than LaPorta: Rob Gronkowski (10, 2010) and Mike Ditka (12, 1961). Among rookies at the position, his 71 receptions are only less than those of Keith Jackson (81, 1981) and Jeremy Shockey (74, 2002).
T.J. Hockenson, a tight end for the Vikings, needs nine receptions to get 100 yards and 98 yards to accomplish 1,000 yards. In his career, he has not yet reached those benchmarks in a season. With 103 more receiving yards, the Lions’ 2019 first-round choice, who was traded to the Vikings midway through the previous campaign, would also break Joe Senser’s team tight end record from 1981. In his first encounter with the Lions last season, Hockenson had six catches for 77 yards.
Key matchup: Vikings blitz on Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Brian Flores, the defensive coordinator for the Vikings, calls the most blitzes in the NFL. Five years earlier, Flores led the Patriots defense in Super Bowl 53, where they outperformed Goff and the Rams. According to data from Sportradar, the Vikings have targeted opponents with five or more rushers on 49.6% of throw plays. According to Sportradar, Goff has thrown the second-most interceptions in the NFL this season with five when blitzed.
KEY INJURIES: LB Derrick Barnes (shoulder), backup TE Brock Wright (groin), and Lions CB Jerry Jacobs (hamstring) were all sidelined from practice on Wednesday following their injuries sustained in last week’s match. .. Along with backup wide receiver Jalen Nailor (concussion), Vikings RB Alexander Mattison (ankle) and RT Brian O’Neill (ankle) missed the previous game. They didn’t rehearse on Wednesday. DT Harrison Phillips (back) and CB Byron Murphy (knee) were also sidelined.
