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Minnesota Vikings: Stefon Diggs Unlikely To Play on Thanksgiving

By Kevin Parvizi

Nov 13, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) runs with the ball as Washington Redskins cornerback Kendall Fuller (38) chases in the fourth quarter at FedEx Field. The Redskins won 26-20. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) runs with the ball as Washington Redskins cornerback Kendall Fuller (38) chases in the fourth quarter at FedEx Field. The Redskins won 26-20. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Minnesota Vikings lead the NFC North, but they might not hold onto that lead if Stefon Diggs is unable to go against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving.

It looks like we should be in for some fun matchups on Thanksgiving Day and the battle between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings for NFC North supremacy could be the best of the bunch. Both teams are 6-4 as the Vikings bounced back from a four-game slide to knock off Carson Palmer and the Arizona Cardinals in Week 11. Unfortunately, a new losing skid may start without Stefon Diggs.

The most important player on the Vikings offense has been quarterback Sam Bradford, who has been much better than expected as Teddy Bridgewater’s pricy injury replacement. Bradford has looked in command and accurate, spreading the ball to a variety of targets and finally making something out of first-round pick Cordarrelle Patterson as an NFL wide receiver.

But nobody is more critical to Bradford’s success than Diggs, who has been even better as a sophomore than he was as a rookie surprise.

Diggs is dealing with a knee injury and it sounds like we should not expect him to take advantage of a strong matchup against the Lions. Since the Vikings have been left without a running game due to the awful blocking in front of them, Diggs has been relied upon to move the chains. And outside of Kyle Rudolph, Diggs has been the only truly consistent option in the passing game.

There’s no doubt that Diggs is a fully legitimate No. 1 wide receiver in this league and he just piles on receptions in a passing attack that must be quick-fire due to the serious limitations of the offensive tackles.

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If Diggs is unable to suit up on Thursday, the Lions should be significant favorites. The Vikings defense is exceptional and will give Matthew Stafford problems. But without Diggs, Minnesota could find it difficult to move the football. So far this season, Diggs has 67 receptions, and he had 13 in Week 9 when the Vikings lost to the Lions in overtime.

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