Back from bye week, Vikings try not to focus on roster shake-up

The Vikings returned from the bye week Monday facing a long climb from the NFC North's cellar and a stretch of three divisional games that starts Sunday in Green Bay.

But they'll attempt to turn around the season without defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, who was traded to the Ravens last week, and a looming Nov. 3 trade deadline that could take away more talent.

Coach Mike Zimmer insisted Monday that the Vikings aren't focusing beyond this year despite trading away their leading pass rusher after a 1-5 start.

"It's the same every year [at the trade deadline]. We're not looking to 2021," Zimmer said via videoconference. "What we're looking to do is what is the best thing to do for our football team, this year and moving forward."

Receiver Adam Thielen said he wasn't shocked by the Ngakoue trade.

"You know things like that are going to happen through a season, especially with the start we had," Thielen said. "[But] we trust the guys upstairs, this coaching staff, and all that are involved in doing what's best to help this team win games. That's where our focus is."

Knowing the Vikings could trade more players and dump salary before Nov. 3, the locker room is trying to look inward, according to Thielen.

The Vikings get a couple reinforcements at practice post bye week as right guard Pat Elflein and linebacker Troy Dye were designated to return Monday, meaning the team has started a 21-day window during which Elflein (thumb) and Dye (ankle) can practice before needing to be activated from injured reserve or shelved for the season.

Elflein has missed five games since tearing a ligament in his thumb during practice after the Week 1 loss to the Packers. Dye, the fourth-round rookie out of Oregon, injured his ankle during the Week 2 loss in Indianapolis.

The Vikings' deadline to activate Elflein and Dye is Monday, Nov. 16, when they're scheduled to play the Bears in Chicago.

After a bye week in which he watched football as a spectator, Thielen was asked which NFL receivers he enjoys observing most. The second name mentioned was Seahawks receiver D.K. Metcalf.

While Metcalf only had two grabs for 23 yards in the Sunday night loss to Arizona, Thielen applauded Metcalf's effort to chase down Cardinals safety Budda Baker nearly 100 yards on an interception return and prevent a touchdown.

As injuries persist, the Vikings filled two roster spots with cornerbacks, promoting Mark Fields from the practice squad and claiming Chris Jones, a third-year player out of Nebraska, off waivers from the Detroit Lions. Three Vikings corners — Mike Hughes (neck), Kris Boyd (hamstring) and Holton Hill (foot) — are currently dealing with injuries.