Vikings to start Sheldon Richardson, James Lynch on defensive line, Mason Cole remains at center
Nov. 28—SANTA CLARA, Calif. — With the Vikings down all four of their preferred starters on the defensive line, two additional replacements have been announced as starters for Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium.
The Vikings announced that Sheldon Richardson will replace Everson Griffen at defensive end and James Lynch will fill in for three-technique defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson. Griffen was placed Friday on the non-football illness reserve list and Tomlinson is out after being placed last Tuesday on the COVID-19 reserve list.
The Vikings entered the week knowing they would be without defensive end Danielle Hunter, lost for the season on Oct. 31 due to a torn pectoral muscle, and nose tackle Michael Pierce will miss his seventh straight game while on injured reserve with an elbow injury.
The Vikings also announced that Mason Cole again will start at center ahead of Garrett Bradbury. It will be the fourth straight start for Cole at center. The first two came when Bradbury was on the COVID list, and then he beat out Bradbury for the job.
Inactive for the Vikings are safety Camryn Bynum, cornerback Harrison Hand, guard Wyatt Davis, quarterback Kellen Mond, linebacker Chazz Surratt and wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette. Bynum, who played in college at nearby California, suffered an ankle injury in practice on Thursday. He sat out Friday's practice and was listed as questionable for Sunday.
Inactive for the 49ers are running back JaMycal Hasty, defensive tackle Maurice Hurst, offensive lineman Colton McKivitz and defensive end Jordan Willis.
