Cedric Griffin & Chris Cook Active, Griffin To Start
Per Vikings.com, cornerbacks Cedric Griffin and Chris Cook are both active for today’s game against the Detroit Lions. Not only will Griffin be active, but he will be in the starting lineup. This is Griffin’s first action since tearing his ACL in last season’s NFC Championship Game.
Rookie Chris Cook will make his NFL debut. Griffin and Antoine Winfield will be the starting cornerbacks, but Cook should see his first action when the defense lines up in the nickel formation.
The inactive list has a few surprises. Mainly, linebacker Erin Henderson who has played well in the team’s first two games. I’m guessing the decision was difficult, but it is more indicative of the Vikings needing help at the cornerback position than of Henderson’s play. The full list of inactives is as follows:
QB Joe Webb (3rd QB), S Tyrell Johnson, RB Albert Young, LB Erin Henderson, C Jon Cooper, DT Fred Evans, DE Jayme Mitchell, and DE Everson Griffen.
I realize this is a must-win game for the Vikings, but I worry that forcing Cedric Griffin into the lineup too quickly may jeopardize his knee injury, and therefore, his career. With a bye in the Vikings schedule next week, I assumed the team would take the safe route and give Griffin an additional two weeks to fully heal. However, the Vikings need a victory in the worst way today. I trust the medical staff, and I don’t think they would put Griffin out there too soon. I hope they’re right, and they’re not throwing caution to the wind by starting him.
