Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) of the Minnesota Vikings sprints with the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on September 19, 2022, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Required Credit: USA TODAY Sports/Bill Streicher.
The Minnesota Vikings’ defense, which came in at number 24 last year, is now ranked sixth in the NFL according to DVOA.
The product has been significantly improved, the staff is relatively comparable, and the coaching is completely different.
Additionally, one well-known Vikings defender may return from an injured reserve stay on Christmas Eve when the 7-7 Vikings visit the 10-4 Detroit Lions, while the status of another defender is less clear.
Early in November, linebacker Jordan Hicks succumbed to compartment syndrome, missing four games as a result. Under his leadership, Minnesota’s record was 1-3. But Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports that Hicks might play this weekend.
“LB Jordan Hicks of the Vikings stated today that he is trying to play this weekend. He experienced compartment syndrome against the Saints in Week 10, and that was about five weeks ago. Five days before Vikings-Lions, on Tuesday, Lewis tweeted, “There’s no question his experience would help MN defense down the stretch.”
Hicks has a 76.7 grade from Pro Football Focus, which ranks him as the 18th-best linebacker in the NFL after 14 weeks. He is a captain, and any defensive reinforcements would be appreciated after the Vikings humiliated the Cincinnati Bengals last Saturday with three touchdowns in one quarter.
Marcus Davenport, an outside linebacker, has a more enigmatic situation. “Asked Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell today about Marcus Davenport, who hasn’t played since Week 6 in Chicago,” Lewis tweeted on Wednesday. had surgery on my ankle. According to KOC, Davenport has made progress and, at the very least, was walking well in the locker room today. Of course, timing is a factor.
Regarding Davenport’s recuperation, KSTP’s Darren Wolfson stated on The Mackey and Judd Show on Tuesday, “There has been optimism in the building going back weeks that he will be back.” He has a reason to want to play. Even while he receives these incentives for being active, there are still some unanswered questions. It’s up to the gamer in the end. The desire to play is required. There are concerns around what the gamer wants.
