Viktor
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- Mar 19, 2019
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EAGAN, Minn. – The Vikings rested numerous starters in their regular-season finale against the Bears, giving players a chance to rest, recover and get as healthy as possible for the playoffs.
That includes linebacker Eric Kendricks, who suffered a quad injury in Week 16 against Green Bay and likely wouldn’t have played Sunday due to his injury.
Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer was asked at his weekly Wednesday press conference if he feels a week off helped Kendricks’ chances of being ready for the upcoming Wild Card game against the Saints.
“I think so,” Zimmer said.
If Kendricks is able to go, it’s likely that he’ll be tasked with keeping an eye on Alvin Kamara, something the Vikings linebacker has done in previous matchups.
The versatile Saints running back played in 14 games in 2019, rushing 171 times for 797 yards and five scores. He was second on the team with 81 receptions and tallied 533 yards and a touchdown.
Zimmer on Wednesday explained what makes Kamara so dangerous on the field:
“He’s extremely shifty in the way he runs, but he’s a physical runner, as well,” Zimmer said of Kamara, who is listed at 5-foot-10 and 215 pounds. “Catches the ball out of the backfield, runs good routes.
“The thing that impresses me is that, not very often does one guy bring him down. He steps on the tackles, he’s got the limp leg, so he does a really good job with that,” Zimmer added. “And even in the middle of the field, perimeter, he can go the distance like he did last week against Carolina.”
Kamara had a pair of rushing touchdowns in Week 17 against the Panthers, including a 15-yard scamper up the left sideline.