{"id":11236,"date":"2025-12-25T00:04:54","date_gmt":"2025-12-25T00:04:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/vikings-lions-injury-week-17\/"},"modified":"2025-12-25T00:04:54","modified_gmt":"2025-12-25T00:04:54","slug":"vikings-lions-injury-week-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/vikings-lions-injury-week-17\/","title":{"rendered":"Final Vikings vs. Lions Injury Report for Week 17 of 2025 &#8211; Vikings.com"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<h2>Lead<\/h2>\n<p>The Minnesota Vikings released their final injury report ahead of Week 17\u2019s Christmas Day home game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. On Wednesday the team ruled out tight end T.J. Hockenson (shoulder), center Ryan Kelly (concussion), running back Jordan Mason (ankle) and quarterback J.J. McCarthy (right hand). Right tackle Brian O\u2019Neill (heel) was listed as questionable, and rookie tight end Gavin Bartholomew \u2014 previously on Reserve\/PUP \u2014 was downgraded to out during the week. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. CT; the game will stream internationally on Netflix and air locally on WCCO.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>T.J. Hockenson (TE) is officially out for Week 17 with a shoulder injury, removing a primary red\u2011zone target for Minnesota.<\/li>\n<li>Center Ryan Kelly is ruled out after a concussion diagnosis; the Vikings will start the game without their longtime starter at center.<\/li>\n<li>Quarterback J.J. McCarthy is out with a right\u2011hand injury, leaving the team to turn to an alternative starter for the Christmas Day matchup.<\/li>\n<li>Running back Jordan Mason is out with an ankle injury; Minnesota\u2019s backfield depth will be tested in Detroit.<\/li>\n<li>Right tackle Brian O\u2019Neill is listed as questionable (heel); his availability will be monitored up to game time.<\/li>\n<li>Rookie TE Gavin Bartholomew, initially on Reserve\/PUP and in a 21\u2011day window, was downgraded to out on Wednesday afternoon.<\/li>\n<li>The Vikings are 7\u20138 and the Lions are 8\u20137; the game carries postseason implications for both clubs.<\/li>\n<li>Game broadcast: Netflix (international stream) and WCCO (Twin Cities television).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>Injuries have clouded Minnesota\u2019s late\u2011season stretch as the team seeks to preserve playoff hopes. Key personnel absences can shift play\u2011calling, snap counts and in\u2011game substitutions, especially at positions such as center and tight end that influence both protection and short\u2011yardage offense. The Vikings\u2019 decision to skip live practices this week in favor of walkthroughs reflects a common end\u2011of\u2011season approach to limit further injuries while polishing game plans.<\/p>\n<p>Gavin Bartholomew\u2019s situation illustrates roster management under NFL rules: players placed on Reserve\/Physically Unable to Perform enter a 21\u2011day practice window when medically cleared to resume team activities, and clubs must decide whether to activate, keep on PUP or downgrade to out. For Minnesota, multiple concurrent absences \u2014 including at quarterback, center and tight end \u2014 compress roster flexibility and heighten the importance of depth players and in\u2011game adjustments.<\/p>\n<h2>Main Event<\/h2>\n<p>On Wednesday the Vikings\u2019 staff declared four players out for the Week 17 contest: TE T.J. Hockenson (shoulder), C Ryan Kelly (concussion), RB Jordan Mason (ankle) and QB J.J. McCarthy (right hand). The team did not conduct full practices this week; instead it held walk\u2011throughs and assessed player participation levels heading into Thursday and pre\u2011game evaluations. Those procedural choices are intended to reduce contact while allowing coaches to implement situational work.<\/p>\n<p>Brian O\u2019Neill was listed as questionable with a heel issue, a designation that leaves his status to late\u2011week medical checks and coaching decisions. Rookie TE Gavin Bartholomew, who had been in the 21\u2011day PUP evaluation window, was downgraded to out Wednesday afternoon \u2014 a move that removes him from immediate return considerations. The club\u2019s published practice and game\u2011status charts follow league definitions and were posted with the team\u2019s official Week 17 injury report.<\/p>\n<p>With J.J. McCarthy unavailable, Minnesota will rely on an alternative quarterback plan for the game; the team\u2019s depth chart and pregame announcements will name the starter. The absence of Ryan Kelly at center will require a reshuffle on the offensive line that could affect protection and run\u2011blocking calls. Collectively, the rulings change the matchup dynamics against an 8\u20137 Detroit squad fighting for postseason positioning.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; Implications<\/h2>\n<p>Loss of T.J. Hockenson compresses Minnesota\u2019s options in the red area and short\u2011yardage formations. Hockenson has been a primary intermediary between the run and pass game; without him, the Vikings may rely more heavily on tight\u2011end alternatives, multiple\u2011back sets and short\u2011area quick passing to replace chunk yardage. Defenses may be able to allocate fewer resources to the middle of the field as a result.<\/p>\n<p>Ryan Kelly\u2019s concussion absence is significant beyond a single snap: the center is a key communicator for line calls and adjustments against stunts and blitzes. Replacing Kelly could increase pre\u2011snap miscommunications and alter protection schemes, forcing quicker releases from the quarterback and potentially more three\u2011step drop plays. Detroit\u2019s defensive front could exploit any instability against Minnesota\u2019s interior line.<\/p>\n<p>J.J. McCarthy\u2019s unavailability affects both play design and situational confidence. A backup starter tends to shift the playbook toward higher\u2011percentage throws, more designed runs and simplified reads to limit turnovers. Opposing coordinators will game\u2011plan for a different signal\u2011caller profile, which can change tempo and third\u2011down strategies across the contest.<\/p>\n<p>Roster and long\u2011term implications include potential elevations from the practice squad and short\u2011term signings to shore up depth. Bartholomew\u2019s downgrade to out closes one activation option at tight end; Minnesota may instead carry additional offensive linemen or running backs on game day depending on final designations. With both teams\u2019 playoff windows still relevant, how Minnesota manages these absences will have immediate consequence for its postseason path.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; Data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Player<\/th>\n<th>Position<\/th>\n<th>Practice Status<\/th>\n<th>Game Status<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>T.J. Hockenson<\/td>\n<td>TE<\/td>\n<td>Walk\u2011through \/ Not practicing<\/td>\n<td>Out<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Ryan Kelly<\/td>\n<td>C<\/td>\n<td>Walk\u2011through \/ Not practicing<\/td>\n<td>Out<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Jordan Mason<\/td>\n<td>RB<\/td>\n<td>Walk\u2011through \/ Not practicing<\/td>\n<td>Out<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>J.J. McCarthy<\/td>\n<td>QB<\/td>\n<td>Walk\u2011through \/ Not practicing<\/td>\n<td>Out<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Brian O\u2019Neill<\/td>\n<td>RT<\/td>\n<td>Walk\u2011through \/ Limited<\/td>\n<td>Questionable<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Gavin Bartholomew<\/td>\n<td>TE (Rookie)<\/td>\n<td>Reserve\/PUP \u2014 in 21\u2011day window<\/td>\n<td>Out (downgraded)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The table above consolidates the team\u2019s final listings for Week 17. Compared with previous weeks, Minnesota enters the game with multiple starting\u2011caliber absences at skill and interior line positions \u2014 a pattern that has coincided this season with tighter play\u2011calling and greater reliance on rotation players. The Vikings\u2019 7\u20138 record and the Lions\u2019 8\u20137 standing heighten the stakes: the outcome could influence both clubs\u2019 final slotting in the NFC race.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; Quotes<\/h2>\n<p>Team communications framed the week as cautious and pragmatic as medical staff worked through evaluations.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cThe Vikings did not practice this week in preparing for Week 17\u2019s Christmas Day home game; the team held walk\u2011throughs and estimated participation levels,\u201d<\/p>\n<p><cite>Minnesota Vikings \u2014 Official team release<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The club also published the standard practice and game\u2011status definitions alongside the report to clarify terminology for media and fans.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cPractice status: DNP = Did not participate; LP = Limited participation; FP = Full participation. Game status: Out, Doubtful, Questionable,\u201d<\/p>\n<p><cite>Minnesota Vikings \u2014 Official team release<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: Injury designations and the PUP window<\/summary>\n<p>The Reserve\/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list is used for players unable to start the season or who sustain injuries before returning to practice; once a player is activated to a 21\u2011day window they may return to practice and be evaluated by the medical staff. Practice tags (DNP, LP, FP) indicate participation level during the week, while game status (Out, Doubtful, Questionable) reflects the team\u2019s assessment of availability for the upcoming contest. Teams commonly limit live contact late in the season to reduce new injuries while preserving game\u2011planning time.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<\/h2>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Brian O\u2019Neill\u2019s final status will be decided after pregame testing; his questionable tag means his participation is not confirmed.<\/li>\n<li>The identity of the starting quarterback for Minnesota was not named in the team\u2019s report and will be announced on game day.<\/li>\n<li>Any short\u2011term roster elevations or emergency signings to address the multiple outs were possible but not confirmed at the time of the report.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>The Vikings head into Week 17 with significant absences at tight end, center, running back and quarterback \u2014 each of which shapes play\u2011calling and in\u2011game matchups. Ryan Kelly\u2019s concussion and T.J. Hockenson\u2019s shoulder injury are particularly disruptive given their roles in line communication and red\u2011zone offense, respectively. Minnesota\u2019s coaching staff must adapt schemes to protect personnel and limit turnover risks while attempting to sustain an offense that can still compete against an 8\u20137 Lions team fighting for positioning.<\/p>\n<p>How the Vikings manage depth, whether O\u2019Neill can play and who starts at quarterback will determine not only the Christmas Day game plan but also the short\u2011term roster strategy heading into the season\u2019s final stretch. Fans should expect late pregame updates and possible in\u2011game adjustments; the team\u2019s decisions over the next 48 hours will carry tangible consequences for Minnesota\u2019s postseason prospects.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vikings.com\/news\/lions-injury-report-week-17-christmas-day-netflix\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Minnesota Vikings \u2014 Official team release (Vikings.com)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lead The Minnesota Vikings released their final injury report ahead of Week 17\u2019s Christmas Day home game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. On Wednesday the team ruled out tight end T.J. Hockenson (shoulder), center Ryan Kelly (concussion), running back Jordan Mason (ankle) and quarterback J.J. McCarthy (right hand). Right tackle Brian O\u2019Neill &#8230; <a title=\"Final Vikings vs. Lions Injury Report for Week 17 of 2025 &#8211; Vikings.com\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/vikings-lions-injury-week-17\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Final Vikings vs. Lions Injury Report for Week 17 of 2025 &#8211; Vikings.com\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11232,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Vikings vs. Lions Week 17 Injury Report \u2014 Vikings.com","rank_math_description":"Final injury report for the Vikings ahead of the Week 17 Christmas Day game vs. Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium: Hockenson, Ryan Kelly, Jordan Mason and J.J. McCarthy out.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Vikings,Lions,injury report,Week 17,Hockenson","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11236","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11236","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11236"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11236\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11232"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11236"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11236"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11236"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}