Ezra Cleveland is questionable on the Vikings roster. What does this mean for Dalton Risner? Either Cleveland or Risner will start at left guard Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field. Vikings guard Ezra Cleveland
Minnesota Vikings guard Ezra Cleveland takes the field before the team’s preseason NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Vikings left guard Ezra Cleveland, who was out last week with a foot injury, will be a limited participant in practice this week. He is questionable for Sunday afternoon’s rivalry game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
When asked how Cleveland looked in practice this week, head coach Kevin O’Connell said he’s slowly getting back to 100 percent. He also acknowledged that left fielder Dalton Risner looked good this week.
That begs the question: Which player will start for the Vikings with Cleveland and Risner in full swing heading to the Packers? “We’re working through it,” O’Connell said. “As we’ve said since the start of training camp, we’re looking for a top-five finish and ultimately that will decide.”
It’s worth noting that when Risner started Monday night’s game, the Vikings’ offensive line was arguably the best of the season. That group dominated in the trenches against a very talented defensive front, helping the Vikings pull off the upset of the San Francisco 49ers.
“We want to try to determine what those top five look like,” O’Connell said. “Friends knocking here and there has a lot to do with it.”
Asamoah ruled out
The only Vikings player out of Sunday’s game is linebacker Brian Asamoah. He is working through an ankle injury and has not practiced this week.
“It just didn’t turn out the way we hoped,” O’Connell said. “We’ll try to deal with him more over the weekend and see if we can get him in for next week.”
Meanwhile, running back Kene Nwangwu is questionable with an illness and receiver Jalen Nailor with a hamstring injury. Tight end T.J. Hockenson has progressed to the point where he has no signs of injury after missing practice earlier this week.
The right shoes
Always the talk of the town at Lambeau Field. Did players choose different cleats hoping for better grip on natural grass?
Although O’Connell has urged his players to consider the issue this week, he will not be ordering boots on Sunday.
“I think enough of them understand how important it is,” O’Connell said. “The seven-pin cleats are clearly a tool for these guys to help them stay on the ground. That’s really the No. 1 requirement of football players, to be on the field when they don’t have to be.”
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