Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints

Injuries noted

Minnesota Vikings: Jamal Adams (IR) — ir; Tyler Batty (IR) — The Vikings placed Batty (knee) on injured reserve Sunday, Tom Pelissero of Netflix reports.; Michael Jurgens (Questionable) — The Vikings activated Jurgens (elbow) from injured reserve Saturday, Craig Peters of the team's official site reports.; Ben Yurosek (Questionable) — The Vikings activated Yurosek (ankle) from injured reserve Saturday, Craig Peters of the team's official site reports.; Nick Samac (IR) — The Vikings placed Samac (knee) on injured reserve Saturday, Craig Peters of the team's official site reports.; Jordan Mason (IR) — ir; Brian O'Neill (Questionable) — O'Neill (knee) is questionable against the Saints on Sunday.; Justin Jefferson (Questionable) — Jefferson (ankle) will go through a pregame workout before the Vikings make a decision on his availability for Sunday's contest at New Orleans, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.; Charles Demmings (Out) — Demmings (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Saints.; Josh Oliver (IR) — The Vikings placed Oliver (biceps) on injured reserve Tuesday, Craig Peters of the team's official site reports.; Donovan Jackson (IR) — Jackson (knee) was placed on injured reserve by the Vikings on Tuesday.; Christian Darrisaw (Out) — Darrisaw (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Saints.; Jordan Addison (Questionable) — Addison (hamstring) will work out pregame before the Vikings make a call on his availability for Sunday's contest in New Orleans, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

New Orleans Saints: Mason Tipton (PUP-R) — Tipton (leg) was moved to the reserve/PUP list by the Saints on Sunday.; Nick Saldiveri (PUP-R) — New Orleans placed Saldiveri (knee) on its reserve/physically unable to perform list Tuesday.; Bryan Bresee (IR) — ir; Dillon Radunz (IR) — ir; Jordyn Tyson (IR); Ty Chandler (IR) — The Saints placed Chandler (knee) on injured reserve Tuesday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.; Jaylan Ford (Questionable) — The Saints activated Ford (ankle) from injured reserve Saturday.; Alvin Kamara (Questionable) — Kamara (back) is expected to play in Sunday's contest against the Vikings, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.; David Long Jr. (IR) — The Saints placed Long (undisclosed) on injured reserve Sunday.; Moliki Matavao (IR) — The Saints placed Matavao (knee) on injured reserve Tuesday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.; Lorenzo Styles Jr. (Questionable); Rejzohn Wright (IR) — Wright (hip) was put on injured reserve by the Saints on Monday.; Zach Wood (IR) — The Saints placed Wood (calf) on injured reserve Friday.; Kelvin Banks Jr. (IR) — Banks (ankle) underwent surgery this week, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.; Travis Etienne Jr. (IR) — The Saints are placing Etienne (hamstring) on injured reserve, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.; Barion Brown (Questionable) — Brown (thigh) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Vikings, Emily Leiker of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.; Anfernee Jennings (Out) — Jennings (knee) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Vikings, Emily Leiker of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.; Julian Blackmon (Questionable) — Blackmon (shoulder) is listed as questionable against the Vikings on Sunday, Emily Leiker of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.; Kaden Elliss (Out) — Elliss (calf) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Vikings, Emily Leiker of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.; Brock Rechsteiner (Reserve-Sus) — The Saints waived Rechsteiner (suspension) on Sunday, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.; Jeremiah Wright (Out) — Wright (concussion) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Vikings, Emily Leiker of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.; Christen Miller (Questionable) — questionable; Nathan Shepherd (Questionable) — Shepherd (illness) is now questionable for Sunday's game against the Vikings.; Vernon Broughton (Questionable) — questionable

QUARTERBACK

• Tyler Shough is the projected starting quarterback for NO

  6.68 Y/A

  Through 4 games in 2026, Tyler Shough threw for 1203 passing yards, completed 67.2% of his passes and averaged 6.68 yards per attempt. Last season over 11 games he threw for 2384 yards, completed 67.6% and averaged 7.29 yards per attempt, 10-6 touchdowns to interceptions. This season's 9-3 touchdown-to-interception line is 4 games in.

• Kyler Murray is the projected starting quarterback for MIN

  6.1 Y/A

  Through 3 games in 2026, Kyler Murray threw for 433 passing yards, completed 63.4% of his passes and averaged 6.1 yards per attempt. Last season over 5 games he threw for 962 yards, completed 68.3% and averaged 5.97 yards per attempt, 6-3 touchdowns to interceptions. This season's 1-2 touchdown-to-interception line is 3 games in.

TRENCHES

• MIN: 94.5 rushing yards allowed per game to NO's 147.8

  53.3 YPG

  MIN is at 94.5 rushing yards allowed per game over 4 games; NO is at 147.8 over 4 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Oct 10.

PASS RUSH

• MIN: 4 sacks recorded per game to NO's 2

  2 SACKS

  Minnesota is averaging 4 sacks a game through four games, double New Orleans at 2. That pass rush lines up with Minnesota's strong third-down and red-zone numbers on the same matchup, which suggests the pressure is doing real work. Four games is still a small sample, and sack totals depend on the lines faced. In the Superdome, Minnesota's rush is the side most likely to shape drives.

PACE & SCRIPT

• MIN: 12.8 points allowed per game to NO's 32

  19.3 PPG

  Minnesota's defense is allowing 12.8 points over four games, well under its 19.6 last season. New Orleans is giving up 32, up from 22.5. The Saints throw a lot, which can mean shootouts, and turnovers have hurt them. Both numbers are four games deep and likely to move toward last season, but the gap points to Minnesota controlling how this game gets played.

• NO: 72.8 offensive plays per game to MIN's 59.8

  13 PLAYS

  MIN is at 59.8 offensive plays per game over 4 games; NO is at 72.8 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 10. Last season MIN was at 56.1 over 17 games and NO at 63.2 over 17 games.

• NO: 26.3 points per game to MIN's 21.5

  4.8 PPG

  MIN is at 21.5 points per game over 4 games; NO is at 26.3 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 10. Last season MIN was at 20.2 over 17 games and NO at 18 over 17 games.

TURNOVERS

• MIN: 1.75 takeaways per game to NO's 0.75

  1 TO

  MIN is at 1.75 takeaways per game over 4 games; NO is at 0.75 over 4 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Oct 10.

EXPLOSIVE PLAYS

• NO: 5.03 yards per play to MIN's 4.4

  0.63 Y/P

  New Orleans is moving the ball at almost exactly its pace from last season, 5.05 then and 5.03 now, so that side looks stable. The gap comes from Minnesota dropping to 4.4 from 4.82 over 4 games, with Kyler Murray's longest gain last time a 27-yarder to Jordan Addison. Both offenses had 3 plays of 20 or more yards in their last game, so this projects as a grind where Minnesota needs its efficiency to bounce back toward last season's level.

RED ZONE

• MIN: 18.2% red-zone scoring allowed to NO's 66.7%

  48.5 PP

  Opponents have scored on only 18.2% of red-zone trips against Minnesota over four games, compared with 66.7% against New Orleans. Red-zone rates rest on a small number of trips, so four games can swing them hard, and 18.2% is very likely to climb. New Orleans at 66.7% looks more like a real weakness. Bettors thinking about totals should expect Minnesota's stinginess near the goal line to loosen some.

• NO: 80% red-zone scoring rate to MIN's 50%

  30 PP

  MIN is at 50% red-zone scoring rate over 4 games; NO is at 80% over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 10. Last season MIN was at 56.9% over 17 games and NO at 44.4% over 17 games.

• NO: 3.75 red-zone trips per game to MIN's 2

  1.75 TRIPS

  MIN is at 2 red-zone trips per game over 4 games; NO is at 3.75 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 10. Last season MIN was at 3 over 17 games and NO at 2.65 over 17 games.

MISMATCH

• MIN: 12.8 points allowed a game to NO's 32

  12.8 VS 32

  Minnesota has allowed 12.8 points a game through 4 games, while New Orleans has given up 32. Both are big moves from last season, when the Vikings allowed 19.6 and the Saints 22.5, so four games are stretching each side toward an extreme. Expect both to drift back toward those numbers. The gap is still wide enough that New Orleans has to score against a defense playing far above its usual level while hoping its own defense stops leaking.

COVERAGE

• MIN: 22.6% third downs allowed to NO's 47.6%

  25 PP

  Minnesota lets opponents convert just 22.6% of third downs over four games, while New Orleans allows 47.6%, which means one defense gets off the field and the other keeps drives alive. The sheet does not list the offenses faced, so some of that gap could be schedule. A rate this low usually rises over a full season. Even with some pullback, the difference matters for drive length and possession count in this matchup.

• MIN: 4.93 yards per play allowed to NO's 5.9

  0.97 Y/P

  MIN is at 4.93 yards per play allowed over 4 games; NO is at 5.9 over 4 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Oct 10.

REPLACEMENT

• Travis Etienne Jr. (RB) is on injured reserve for NO

  IR

  New Orleans running back Travis Etienne Jr. went on injured reserve with a hamstring injury on Oct 1, so he will miss the Minnesota game. That is a multi-week absence for a back with a starting name. Saints rushing props should be read through whoever has taken his carries since he went down.

• Jordyn Tyson (WR) is on injured reserve for NO

  IR

  Saints receiver Jordyn Tyson is on injured reserve as of Oct 5, so he is out against Minnesota. No injury is listed. His absence puts more of the New Orleans passing game on the receivers still active.

• Josh Oliver (TE) is on injured reserve for MIN

  IR

  Minnesota tight end Josh Oliver went on injured reserve with a biceps injury on Sep 30, so he is out at New Orleans. He has been sidelined for over a week already, and the Vikings have been playing without him. The other Minnesota tight ends absorb his blocking and receiving snaps.

• Donovan Jackson (G) is on injured reserve for MIN

  IR

  Vikings guard Donovan Jackson was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury on Oct 7, so he misses the trip to New Orleans. Losing a starting-caliber guard means a backup lines up inside. That can show up in the Minnesota run game and in pressure up the middle.

PRACTICE REPORT

• Anfernee Jennings

  Out

  Knee · Did not practice · Out

• Charles Demmings

  Out

  Hamstring · Limited practice · Out

• Jeremiah Wright

  Out

  Concussion · Did not practice · Out

• Kaden Elliss

  Out

  Calf · Did not practice · Out

• Christian Darrisaw

  Out

  Concussion · Did not practice · Out

• Alvin Kamara

  Questionable

  Back · Limited practice · Questionable

• Michael Jurgens

  Questionable

  Elbow · Full practice · Questionable

• Barion Brown

  Questionable

  Thigh · Full practice · Questionable

• Brian O'Neill

  Questionable

  Knee · Limited practice · Questionable

• Ben Yurosek

  Questionable

  Ankle · Full practice · Questionable

• Lorenzo Styles Jr.

  Questionable

  Calf · Full practice · Questionable

• Justin Jefferson

  Questionable

  Ankle · Limited practice · Questionable

• Jordan Addison

  Questionable

  Hamstring · Limited practice · Questionable

• Christen Miller

  Questionable

  Illness · Did not practice · Questionable

• Julian Blackmon

  Questionable

  Shoulder · Limited practice · Questionable

• Jaylan Ford

  Questionable

  Ankle · Full practice · Questionable

• Harrison Smith

  LP

  Limited practice

• Aaron Jones Sr.

  LP

  Limited practice

• Jayden Price

  FP

  Full practice

• Mike Reid

  FP

  Coach's Decision · Full practice

• Davon Godchaux

  FP

  Full practice

• Carl Granderson

  FP

  Full practice

• Noah Fant

  FP

  Full practice

• Brett Thorson

  FP

  Full practice

• Tyler Shough

  FP

  Full practice

• Chris Olave

  FP

  Full practice

SITUATIONAL

• MIN (4-0) at NO (1-3)

  -58 PT GAP

  Minnesota is 4-0 at +35 and 2-0 on the road, so the unbeaten start comes with a real margin. New Orleans is 1-3 at -23, has lost 2 straight and is 0-2 at home. Every split here leans the same way. A +35 margin over four games points to a good team winning some close ones, so the Vikings' form looks real even if 4-0 slightly overstates the gap.

• MIN: 100% fourth-down conversion rate to NO's 77.8%

  22.2 PP

  MIN is at 100% fourth-down conversion rate over 4 games; NO is at 77.8% over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 10. Last season MIN was at 62.5% over 17 games and NO at 41.2% over 17 games.

STREAK

• MIN has won 4 straight

  W4

  Minnesota is 4-0 and has not lost yet. The sheet does not show who those wins came against, so the strength of the run is unknown. Four games is early, and unbeaten teams often get priced up as the public piles on. On the road at New Orleans, check whether the number asks Minnesota to win by more than their form supports.

AFTER GARY

• MIN -134 → -134

  NO MOVE

  Gary's number was -134; the same book now shows -134.