The Latest: Lions, Vikings pay tribute to shooting victims

Posted

___ 12:00 p.m.

The Latest from Week 13 of the NFL (all times EST):

The Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings paid tribute to the victims of Tuesday’s school shooting in Oxford, Michigan, by wearing a gold “O” on the back of their helmets.

While warming up for the game Sunday at Ford Field, many Lions players and coaches and some Vikings players and coaches wore white Oxford Wildcats T-shirts.

Both franchises have ties to Oxford High School football coach Zach Line. The former NFL fullback played for the Vikings from 2013 to 2016 and in New Orleans from 2017 to 2019, when Detroit coach Dan Campbell was an assistant coach for the Saints.

The tragedy took the lives of four high school students, including Tate Myre, a standout football player and wrestler. ___

11:50 a.m.

Gardner Minshew is starting at quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles against the New York Jets in place of the injured Jalen Hurts.

Hurts was limited in practice all week with a sprained ankle, but insisted he would be ready to play Sunday. Coach Nick Sirianni opted to instead play it safe and start Minshew, who has thrown two passes this season for the Eagles.

Hurts was inactive for the game, so Reid Stinnett will serve as Minshew’s backup.

Hurts was injured in Philadelphia’s 13-7 loss against the Giants last Sunday, when the second-year quarterback had his worst game as a pro with three interceptions. His ankle was stepped on in the second half, but he remained in the game.

Hurts’ mobility is a major part of his game, so playing on a sprained ankle is an issue. He’s the Eagles’ leading rusher with 695 yards on 122 carries and has rushed for at least 50 yards in the Eagles’ past six games — the franchise’s first QB to do that since Randall Cunningham in 1990.

Minshew was acquired in a trade with Jacksonville just before the start of the season. He was third on the Eagles’ depth chart until Joe Flacco was dealt to the Jets on Oct. 25. Minshew’s only appearance this season came in Week 8, when he completed both of his passes for 11 yards in Philadelphia’s 44-6 blowout win at Detroit.

Minshew threw for 5,530 yards and 37 touchdowns with 11 interceptions in 23 games, including 20 starts, in two seasons in Jacksonville. He became expendable after the Jaguars drafted Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 overall pick in April.

Running back Jordan Howard was also among the Eagles’ inactives, but Boston Scott was active after sitting out practice all week with a non-COVID-19 illness.

Jets wide receiver Corey Davis was also active after missing last week with a groin injury and being listed as questionable for this game. - Dennis Waszak Jr. reporting from East Rutherford, New Jersey..

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