Dion Dawkins Inactive as Bills Face Vikings Blitz

Dion Dawkins felt it right away against Baltimore. “I felt it immediately. I was like, ‘Dang, something’s up,’” he said of the rib injury he took late in the first quarter last week, and he played the final three quarters anyway. This time the ribs won. The Bills listed their left tackle as inactive for Monday night’s game at the Minnesota Vikings, and left guard Alec Anderson (ankle) is out with him.

That is the worst possible week to lose the left side. Both teams came in at 6-1, and the Vikings under Brian Flores lead the league in pressure rate and blitz more than anyone. Buffalo now has to protect Josh Allen’s blind side with two backups against the defense built to punish exactly that.

Who Is Blocking for Allen

Tylan Grable is expected to start at left tackle and Austin Corbett at left guard. Grable filled in for right tackle Spencer Brown against the Ravens and again when Brown briefly left the Rams game, so he has played real snaps this year. Corbett battled for the left guard job in training camp. Dawkins vouched for him last week: “He’s going to come in and do exactly what we’re asking him to. And that’s to block, communicate and hold his presence.”

Losing Dawkins is rare. He said he had missed only two games in 10 seasons, the last one a concussion in Week 13 of last year at Pittsburgh. Buffalo ran 51 times for 249 yards that night, but the backups who covered for him then are not available now. Ryan Van Demark is with the Vikings, and Anderson is the other half of tonight’s problem.

The rest of the Bills’ list is Skyler Bell, Jalon Kilgore, Mike Danna and Greg Gaines. Joshua Palmer went on injured reserve, and Buffalo elevated safety Geno Stone and receiver Trent Sherfield from the practice squad.

Minnesota Has Holes Too

The Vikings are not at full strength either. Kyler Murray (hamstring) is inactive, so Carson Wentz starts with rookie Max Brosmer as the only other quarterback dressed. Jauan Jennings is out, and so is first-round defensive lineman Caleb Banks, who was not on the injury report all week. Safeties Jakobe Thomas and Theo Jackson and cornerback Chuck Demmings are also down.

Minnesota did add a familiar name. The Vikings signed Odell Beckham Jr. to the active roster from the practice squad, and he is active tonight. Running back Demond Claiborne went on injured reserve with a knee injury.

Smacktok pick lean: Lean higher on Dalton Kincaid receptions. With Grable and Corbett starting on the left side against the league’s most aggressive blitz, the ball has to come out fast, and the middle of the field is where Allen goes when the pocket collapses. Keep the Allen rushing lean from the preview as well, since a patched-up line means more scrambles.