The Minnesota Vikings claimed Ben Tate off waivers earlier this week, but that doesn't mean he's hopping right into the starting running back job. As long as Jerick McKinnon can play through his lower back injury, he'll get the nod this Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, offensive coordinator Norv Turner told the Pioneer Press.
Ben Tate not yet the Vikings’ starter, Julius Thomas misses practice
Jerick McKinnon is holding onto the top running back job in Minnesota (at least for now), Peyton Manning could be without two of his top targets this weekend and NFL viewership is apparently resistant to blowouts.
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Turner suggested that the signing of Tate, who was released by Cleveland on Tuesday, had more to do with injuries than it did a concern over the running back options left after Adrian Peterson’s suspension. McKinnon was limited in practice on Thursday and Mike Asiata, who isn’t expected to play with a concussion, didn’t practice at all.
McKinnon, a rookie third-rounder, has been the team's primary back since Peterson's departure, running for 484 yards with a 4.9 yards per carry average. He hasn't found the end zone, however, and tallied just eight carries last week in a loss to Chicago. Tate had 333 yards and four touchdowns in an underwhelming stint with the Browns.
Julio Jones out sick but expected to play
The star receiver was one of three Atlanta Falcons who missed practice on Thursday, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitiution. Fortunately for the first-place Falcons, Julio Jones should be recovered in time to play against Cleveland this Sunday.
Even if Jones is again held out of practice on Friday (he missed Wednesday as well), head coach Mike Smith said "Julio will play in the game on Sunday."
Running back Steven Jackson and fullback Patrick DiMarco also sat out Thursday with an illness but are expected to play this weekend.
Julius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders miss Broncos practice
The Denver Broncos dealt with receiver absences of their own on Thursday. Both wideout Emmanuel Sanders and tight end Julius Thomas sat out practice, furthering the possibility that Peyton Manning will be without two of his top targets this weekend.
Sanders, who is recovering from a concussion, and Thomas, who said he's "day-to-day" with an ankle injury, were both on the sidelines taking "mental reps," according to team columnist Andrew Mason. The Broncos lost both players in a shocking loss to the St. Louis Rams last Sunday, a game in which the offense mustered just seven points.
NFL primetime ratings climbing despite blowout games
There have been some really bad, very lopsided football games this season. But apparently America’s into that.
Despite 16 of this season’s 31 primetime NFL games being decided by at least 20 points (nearly triple the amount this time last season), the majority of them have increased in ratings and/or viewership, according to Sporting News.
Ratings for ESPN’s Monday Night Football and NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football, the latter of which got a major boost by simulcasting on CBS for the first seven weeks, are both up despite eight blowouts through 11 weeks. NBC’s Sunday Night Football has had seven consecutive blowout games, but has dropped just two percent in ratings and viewership.
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