Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
At 4-6, the 2025 Minnesota Vikings face a must-win scenario on Sunday, in a road rivalry game against the Green Bay Packers. For the most part, Kevin O’Connell’s group for week 12 is healthier than it has been all season.
Even Ryan Kelly, who hasn’t played since week 4 after suffering two concussions in four games, was activated on Saturday, following a full week of practice.
Earlier this week, it looked like the MN Vikings would also have starting edge rusher Jonathan Greenard available for Sunday’s border battle. The 2024 Pro Bowler missed last week against the Chicago Bears with a shoulder injury and was limited in practice all week.
Jonathan Greenard likely out for MN Vikings
Still Greenard all but guaranteed to reporters on Wednesday that he’d be suited up in Lambeau on Sunday. At the time, who were they to doubt him? Unfortunately, a new report from Matt Zenitz (CBS Sports) Friday night puts the 28-year-old Viking in danger of being a liar..
#Vikings Pro Bowl outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard (shoulder) is currently expected to miss tomorrow’s game against the #Packers, sources tell @CBSSports pic.twitter.com/accaIWHmjW
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) November 23, 2025
Last season, the Minnesota Vikings signed Jonathan Greenard after he spent his first four years in the NFL as a member of the Houston Texans. He rewarded them handsomely, posting 12 sacks for the second-straight season.
Paired with Andrew Van Ginkel, the Vikings have one of the most disrupting and difficult to scheme against duo of outside linebackers in all of football.
This year however, Greenard has recorded just two sacks, in large part because he can’t tackle the quarterback. When you turn on the games, the guy is everywhere, and he leads the Vikings with 36 total pressures in 2025, 21st most in the league.
Stat sheet says Jonathan Greenard has 1 sack in 3 games. But when you turn the tape on, he’s everywhere. He creates sacks for others, draws penalties, makes plays against the run.
Still the best player on a loaded defense, imo. pic.twitter.com/mkycmY4ykz
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) September 22, 2025
If Jonathan Greenard does indeed miss Sunday’s contest in Green Bay, the Vikings will again lean on sophomore first round pick, Dallas Turner.
At this point in his young career, Turner fills in much better for Greenard than he does Van Ginkel. So that’s a small positive to this discouraging news, if you’re looking for something.
Green Bay Packers dealing with their own injury problems
It’s possible that starting running back Josh Jacobs misses the game for the Packers, and J.J. McCarthy should have his full starting offensive line. That doesn’t mean that the team has a clean bill of health, though, as Jordan Love likely won’t see one of Minnesota’s best pass rushers.
Minnesota needs to keep Jordan Love in check. The Packers are currently 6-3-1, and the Vikings need another road win to push their NFC North road record to 3-0. The Playoffs are currently a long shot, but any hope completely evaporates with another loss.
It will be interesting to see how Kevin O’Connell prepared young quarterback J.J. McCarthy for success this week. Even without Greenard, Brian Flores’ defense kept Minnesota in the game during Week 11. It would be great to reward the defense this time for such a performance.
Mentioned in this article: Jonathan Greenard
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