The Minnesota Vikings host the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday with a noon kickoff scheduled for the pair of 2-0 teams. It’s the only game on the Week 3 slate between unbeaten teams.
Vikings vs. Texans is a star-studded affair, for certain, but even so, there are big-time players who won’t be in action.
Here’s a look at the inactives, as well as other injury updates and the projected starting lineups for the Vikings on Sunday.
Who Are the Inactives for Houston Texans at Minnesota Vikings in Week 3?
Vikings Inactives
- WR Jordan Addison
- DL Levi Drake Rodriguez
- CB Dwight McGlothern
- LB Ivan Pace Jr.
- OL Walter Rouse
- QB Brett Rypien
- EDGE Dallas Turner
Texans Inactives
- CB Myles Bryant
- LB Jamal Hill
- WR John Metchie
- RB Joe Mixon
- OL Jarrett Patterson
- RB Dameon Pierce
- LB Rashad Weaver
The most recognizable name on the Vikings’ inactive list for Sunday is Jordan Addison, who scored 10 touchdowns as a rookie last season and figured prominently into the plan in 2024. His absence was expected for this week, though, and there is optimism he’ll be able to play next week in Green Bay.
“Jordan Addison’s in a good place,” Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said on Friday. “Feel really good about where he’s at. Should have a good chance to be able to go next weekend.”
The surprise inactive for the Vikings is Ivan Pace Jr., a starting inside linebacker who apparently injured his ankle during practice this week while trying to recover from a quad injury.
“Really working through the quad, got a little bit of an ankle yesterday (Thursday),” O’Connell said. “As much as I know he wants to try to go, we’ve got to be smart and try to keep him in a good spot where hopefully he’ll be day-to-day next week.”
Pace’s void will be filled by Brian Asamoah II, who was slotted to be the team’s starter at inside linebacker last season until Pace stood out so much in camp and the preseason that he won the starting job.
The Vikings will also be without another linebacker against Houston. Edge rusher Dallas Turner, a first-round pick this year, injured his knee against San Francisco in Week 2 and wasn’t able to recover enough to suit up on Sunday.
To supplement the depth at outside linebacker, the Vikings on Saturday elevated undrafted rookie free agent Bo Richter from the practice squad.
Latest Vikings Injury Report News and Updates
Here is the final Week 3 injury report for the Texans and Vikings.
Addison will be the name most closely monitored next week, presuming the Vikings don’t incur any significant injuries against Houston on Sunday. O’Connell indicated on Friday that his No. 2 receiver is close to returning.
“He was able to really progress, but just one of those things not all the way to the point where we could be 100% confident he wouldn’t have a setback of any kind,” O’Connell said. “Jordan’s always pushing to go. He was pushing to go last week. But ultimately the most important thing is over the long term of the season getting him back to a place where he’s ready to rock and roll.”
MORE: Simulate the Season With PFN’s Playoff Predictor
The other name of concern on the inactive list for the Vikings on Sunday is Turner.
While O’Connell didn’t sound overly concerned about Turner’s long-term outlook, the edge rusher’s status will bear monitoring next week in advance of the Vikings’ first division game of the season in Green Bay.
Speaking of Green Bay, former Packers tight end Robert Tonyan, who signed with Minnesota this offseason, was elevated from the Vikings’ practice squad on Tuesday.
It stems from the Vikings placing tight end Nick Muse on the short-term Injured Reserve list after he injured his hand last week against the 49ers.
Projected Vikings Week 3 Starting Lineups
Quarterback
Starter: Sam Darnold
Backups: Nick Mullens
Running Back
Starter: Aaron Jones, C.J. Ham
Backups: Ty Chandler, Myles Gaskin
Wide Receiver
Starters: Justin Jefferson, Jalen Nailor
Backups: Brandon Powell, Trent Sherfield Sr., Trishton Jackson
Tight End
Starter: Josh Oliver
Backups: Johnny Mundt, Robert Tonyan
Offensive Line
Starters: Christian Darrisaw, Blake Brandel, Garrett Bradbury, Ed Ingram, Brian O’Neill
Backups: Michael Jurgens, Dan Feeney, David Quessenberry
Defensive Linemen
Starters: Jonathan Bullard, Harrison Phillips, Jerry Tillery
Backups: Taki Taimani, Jonah Williams, Jalen Redmond
EDGE
Starters: Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel
Backups: Pat Jones II, Jihad Ward, Bo Richter
Linebacker
Starters: Blake Cashman, Brian Asamoah II
Backups: Kamu Grugier-Hill
Cornerback
Starters: Stephon Gilmore, Shaq Griffin, Byron Murphy, Jr.
Backups: Akayleb Evans, Fabian Moreau
Safety
Starters: Harrison Smith, Cam Bynum
Backups: Josh Metellus, Theo Jackson, Jay Ward
Special Teams
Kicker: Will Reichard
Punter: Ryan Wright
Long Snapper: Andrew DePaola
