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.
