Minnesota Vikings: Xavier Rhodes could be difference-maker versus Lions

The Minnesota Vikings get a boost with the return of All-Pro cornerback Xavier Rhodes.

Minnesota Vikings‘ cornerback Xavier Rhodes will suit up and likely go toe-to-toe with the Detroit Lions’ Marvin Jones Jr. on Sunday. It will be a game inside the game between two bitter rivals.

While supremacy in the NFC North is not at stake, getting some separation in the standings is. Winning on the road will be imperative for the Vikings this week. Rhodes shutting down Jones or Kenny Golladay will go a long way in making things happen.

The last thing the Vikings need is to lose and go into the bye week with a 4-4-1 record and the Chicago Bears waiting for them in Week 10. It could make or break their season.

The 4-3 Bears hold a narrow lead over the Vikings thanks to the 29-29 tie the Vikings had with the Green Bay Packers. The Bears face a lowly Buffalo Bills’ team with the underwhelming Nathan Peterman slated to start at quarterback.

Barring a catastrophic injury the Bears will head into next week 5-3 and hosting the same Lions’ team the Vikings will face. In so many words it is all available hands on deck for Minnesota. Getting Rhodes back after a one-game hiatus is timely.

Dalvin Cook update:

Xavier Rhodes is likely to play for the Vikings, however, the status of Vikings’ running back Dalvin Cook is unclear. Cook has been nursing a hamstring injury for quite some time. The Vikings have applied a cautious approach with him.

The Vikings could rest Cook this week against the Lions. This way he would enter the bye week having missed the last three games.

Cook resting this week would not guarantee him being healthy for the showdown versus the Bears, but it would help prevent Cook from aggravating it during the Lions’ game.