MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Vikings will have running back Jerick McKinnon back in the lineup on Sunday against the Detroit Lions.
McKinnon, who missed last Monday's game against the Chicago Bears with an ankle injury, is active for the Lions game after being listed as questionable. He'll get his chance to take on a bigger role in the offense after the Vikings struggled to get the running game going against the Bears, and he could be a factor in the passing game if the Vikings opt to return to a quicker passing game under interim offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur.
That could be how the Vikings decide to address their pass protection issues against the Lions. They've only got two tight ends active on Sunday, with MyCole Pruitt and David Morgan being healthy scratches, so their method to deal with the Lions could be a return to what they'd done in the first part of the season: spreading out their formations and allowing Sam Bradford to make quick passes.
Wide receiver Jarius Wright has recovered from an ankle injury, but he'll be inactive on Sunday against the Lions. With Alex Boone and Eric Kendricks out because of concussions, the Vikings will start Jeremiah Sirles at left guard and Audie Cole at linebacker. It appeared Friday as though they would use Chad Greenway in nickel situations, and if the 33-year-old linebacker is on the field more often against the pass, he'll be tested by a Lions offense that relies heavily on passes to running back Theo Riddick.
Here is the Vikings' entire list of inactives for Sunday:
G Alex Boone
LB Eric Kendricks
WR Jarius Wright
TE MyCole Pruitt
TE David Morgan
