The Sports Xchange

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Defensive end Everson Griffen, the Minnesota Vikings’ leader in sacks, was a surprise inactive on Sunday. He wasn’t on the injury report all week, but, according to coach Mike Zimmer, Griffen became ill Sunday morning and wasn’t able to play.

Zimmer said he found out about Griffen’s status at about 9:30-10 a.m. Inactives have to be submitted by 10:30.

That gave rookie third-round draft pick Danielle Hunter a surprise first start in the NFL.

“It was pregame when I found out,” Hunter said. “We practiced all week and we always have to be ready for the game. Coach preaches to us about always being ready to be the next man up.”

Hunter finished with half a sack and was credited for forcing a fumble that teammate Brian Robison recovered late in the game. The lineman who was blocking Hunter actually knocked the ball loose, but Hunter was credited with making the play.

“I thought Hunter did some good things,” Zimmer said. “I think one of the sacks Sharrif (Floyd) got, he had a very nice rush.”

Hunter ended up playing 50 of 62 defensive snaps (81 percent). Among defensive linemen, only Robison (53) had more snaps.

The NFL was expected to look into the situation to see what happened with Griffen and why he wasn’t on the injury report. But Zimmer wasn’t nervous about that, saying, “All I know is he was sick on Sunday morning because I saw him.”

Zimmer said Griffen will return to practice Wednesday when the team starts work on the Lions game.

–It took Adrian Peterson 26 carries to reach only 60 yards rushing (2.3). In the second quarter, he had 10 carries for five yards when Zimmer decided to go for it on 4th-and-1 at the Kansas City 42-yard line with a 3-0 lead.

Offensive coordinator Norv Turner was asked to dial up a critical play call. What did he select? A Peterson dive between center Joe Berger and right guard Mike Harris.

“We got faith in what we do,” Peterson said.

Zimmer had just lost a challenge on the spot of the ball. But he was undeterred. He wanted the first down and he signed off on a running play because, well, that’s what his team is built around.

“It’s just pride at that point,” Harris said. “No matter what’s going on, that’s our bread-and-butter play.”

On one of the biggest plays in the game, Peterson rammed through for three yards to extend a touchdown drive.

“It’s funny because I looked at the replay and I could have gotten more out of it … if I bounced it outside,” Peterson said. “But in my mind, it was like just get the one yard and the first down. When it’s that type of situation, we know we can come through.”

–Wide receiver Charles Johnson missed his second straight game because of a rib injury. In light of how rookie Stefon Diggs has seized the opportunity with two standout games in Johnson’s absence, coach Mike Zimmer was asked if he’s a believer in a player not losing his starting job because of injury.

Zimmer said he does believe a player shouldn’t lose his job because of injury, but added in a foretelling manner, “but a guy can lose it because of performance.”

He also said he hadn’t made up his mind about who will start at receiver alongside Mike Wallace once Johnson is healthy. But his answer made it sound like he’s definitely leaning toward elevating Diggs to starter ahead of Johnson.