Cornerback Mackensie Alexander, who played 50 snaps through a knee injury during the Vikings’ meaningless season finale against the Bears, was unable to practice this week and is unlikely to play during Sunday’s NFC wild-card game in New Orleans.
Alexander watched the start of Friday’s practice, when reporters are permitted, from the sideline. More bad news for the Vikings secondary is cornerback Mike Hughes, nursing a neck injury, was downgraded to limited in Thursday’s practice and was not seen at the start of Friday’s session.
The Vikings secondary could be without two of its top four cornerbacks against Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who threw for a career-high 116 passer rating in his 19th season.