Cedric Griffin, usually a starting cornerback for the Vikings, will miss the highly-anticipated rematch of the 2009 NFC Championship game when his team takes on the New Orleans Saints. Griffin injured his ACL last season and missed all of the offseason workouts, but the team was holding out hope he’d be able to go tonight.
With Griffin out, Asher Allen will start across from Antoine Winfield and former Philadelphia Eagle and New York Jet Lito Sheppard will play in the nickel role and even kick outside on occasion.
Rookie running back Toby Gerhart will also miss the game with a knee injury. That’s a big loss for Minnesota since the running game will clearly be a big part of their plan of attack. Gerhart is a guy they really like, but his absence likely means more carries for Adrian Peterson.
Hopefully he can hang onto the football.
Other inactives for Minnesota: Joe Webb (third quarterback), Chris Cook, Mickey Schuler, Jimmy Kennedy, Everson Griffen, Chris DeGeare, and Tyrell Johnson.
Cook and Griffen join Gerhart as very disappointing scratches. Both guys are rookies as well, but they were expected to contribute for the team immediately. Cook is injured, but Griffen’s scratch seems to be performance-based.
Husain Abdullah will start at safety in place of Johnson.
For the Saints, Chris Reis, Chris Ivory, Zach Strief, Danny Clark, Stanley Arnoux, Adrian Arrington, Jimmy Graham, and Junior Gallette.
Obviously, there’s not a whole lot to report there. Graham is a guy the Saints would really like to contribute immediately, but there’s no rush as long as Jeremy Shockey is playing at a high level.
Can you believe it? Football season is back.