EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings defense could be getting a boost in Week 4.
Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer said Monday that he has high hopes for Anthony Barr to make his season debut against the Lions.
"I think he'll play this week," Zimmer said of the Vikings linebacker.
Barr has not played yet in 2021 due to a knee injury. He was listed as questionable for Week 4 but was inactive.
Barr has missed 18 consecutive regular-season games due to injuries, a stretch that began in Week 3 of the 2020 season.
He suffered a torn pectoral muscle in Week 2 against the Colts and missed the remainder of the year.
View photos of the Vikings 53-man roster as of Jan. 5, 2022.

1 K Greg Joseph

1 K Greg Joseph

3 P Jordan Berry

16 P Jordan Berry

7 CB Patrick Peterson

7 CB Patrick Peterson

8 QB Kirk Cousins

8 QB Kirk Cousins

11 QB Kellen Mond

11 QB Kellen Mond

12 WR Dede Westbrook

12 WR Dede Westbrook

14 QB Sean Mannion

14 QB Sean Mannion

15 WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette

15 WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette

17 WR K.J. Osborn

17 WR K.J. Osborn

18 WR Justin Jefferson

18 WR Justin Jefferson

20 CB Harrison Hand

20 CB Harrison Hand

22 S Harrison Smith

22 S Harrison Smith

23 S Xavier Woods

23 S Xavier Woods

24 CB Mackensie Alexander

24 CB Mackensie Alexander

2 RB Alexander Mattison

2 RB Alexander Mattison

26 RB Kene Nwangwu

26 RB Kene Nwangwu

3 CB Cameron Dantzler

27 CB Cameron Dantzler

29 CB Kris Boyd

29 CB Kris Boyd

30 FB C.J. Ham

30 FB C.J. Ham

31 RB Wayne Gallman

31 RB Wayne Gallman

4 RB Dalvin Cook

33 RB Dalvin Cook

35 TE Luke Stocker

35 TE Luke Stocker

41 LB Chazz Surratt

41 LB Chazz Surratt

42 LS Andrew DePaola

42 LS Andrew DePaola

44 S Josh Metellus

44 S Josh Metellus

45 LB Troy Dye

45 LB Troy Dye

48 LB Blake Lynch

48 LB Blake Lynch

52 G Wyatt Davis

52 G Wyatt Davis

55 LB Anthony Barr

55 LB Anthony Barr

56 C Garrett Bradbury

56 C Garett Bradbury

58 DT Michael Pierce

58 DT Michael Pierce

59 LB Nick Vigil

59 LB Nick Vigil

64 T Blake Brandel

64 T Blake Brandel

69 T Rashod Hill

69 T Rashod Hill

74 G Olisaemeka Udoh

74 G Olisaemeka Udoh

75 T Brian O'Neill

75 T Brian O'Neill

78 G Dakota Dozier

78 G Dakota Dozier

83 TE Tyler Conklin

83 TE Tyler Conklin

85 WR Dan Chisena

85 WR Dan Chisena

90 DT Sheldon Richardson

90 DT Sheldon Richardson

92 DT James Lynch

92 DT James Lynch

91 OLB Patrick Jones II

91 DE Patrick Jones II

94 DT Dalvin Tomlinson

94 DT Dalvin Tomlinson

96 DT Armon Watts

96 DT Armon Watts

98 DE D.J. Wonnum

98 DE D.J. Wonnum
Linebackers Eric Kendricks and Nick Vigil have been on the field for all of Minnesota's 261 defensive snaps this season. Second-year linebacker Blake Lynch has been the third linebacker in the Vikings base defense.
Zimmer said Barr's potential return would be a benefit for a defense that is tied for 11th with 23.0 points allowed per game. The Vikings rank 25th in yards allowed per game (389.0).
"I think Nick Vigil's done a really nice job in a lot of the areas. He's very smart, very diligent," Zimmer said. "You know, Anthony Barr has been in the system for a long, long time, and there's certain things we can do with him that we haven't been able to do in these first four ball games.
"You know, he's feeling better every single day," Zimmer added.
Barr, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, is a four-time Pro Bowler.