EAGAN, Minn. — The home slate is about to open.

The Minnesota Vikings (1-0) are set to host the San Francisco 49ers (1-0) at noon (CT) Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. The game will be the first home contest for the Vikings and first road contest for the 49ers this season.

Vikings Uniform

The Vikings will wear their modern purple jerseys and white pants, the look most used by Minnesota in home games. Vikings players will wear a KJ helmet decal all season in honor of Khyree Jackson.

4 Storylines

1. Christian McCaffrey's status (and Jordan Addison's)

The reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year was a late scratch Monday night against the Jets because of Achilles tendinitis and reportedly is in jeopardy of missing Sunday's matinee. Obviously, McCaffrey's status is important to monitor. He rushed for a career-high 1,459 yards in 2023 (5.4 avg.) and added 4.2 receptions and 35.3 yards receiving per contest. He scored a touchdown on the ground and through the air in Week 7 last season at the Vikings but fumbled and was limited to 96 scrimmage yards, his fourth-lowest total in 2023.

Interestingly, it may be the second straight Vikings-49ers matchup that's depleted of star power. San Francisco playmaker Deebo Samuel, Sr., was absent from the 2023 Vikings win with a shoulder fracture. Eleven-time Pro Bowl tackle Trent Williams also missed last year's game.

On the home side, Jordan Addison suffered an ankle injury (opposite of the ankle he injured in camp) and left the game at the Giants. It's unknown right now if he'll play any role Sunday, but Vikings coaches are confident in the depth of its receiver room. Addison was dynamic, operating as de facto WR1 in last year's contest, with seven catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns (Justin Jefferson was sidelined by his hamstring).

2. Sam Darnold's former team

Darnold's close-to-flawless execution in Minnesota's road opener at MetLife Stadium (his original stomping grounds) was a fun watch. The 2018 No. 3 overall choice of the Jets completed 19 of 24 passes for 208 yards and a pair of touchdowns against a Giants defense that's full of early-round draft picks.

His reunion tour will continue at U.S. Bank Stadium against the team he backed up for last season. Darnold's relief opportunities were small in San Francisco although he was semi-efficient in his lone 2023 start, producing a couple scores (with a fumble lost) in the regular-season finale between the 49ers and Rams that pitted him against former Eagles MVP candidate Carson Wentz.

3. Receiver meet-up

There's an extra glimmer to Sunday thanks to the sports docuseries Netflix dropped this summer.

Jefferson was one of five subjects on the eight-part Receiver show, along with Samuel and 49ers tight end George Kittle. Their on-field feats were pretty apparent even before cameras followed their 2023 seasons. But now we're a little more plugged into their personalities, which adds an element of interest to their Week 2 meet-up. The series gave the world a glimpse of Jefferson's humility and tight-knit family.

4. Challenging second game

San Francisco's physicality stands out. Its roster is flooded with difference-makers.

"It really doesn't get more challenging," Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores admitted Tuesday.

Flores called the 49ers the best run-after-the-catch team in the NFL. He said they've done a great job of acquiring and developing players; of being smart in all three phases – offense, defense and special teams – and dispersing the ball into their stars' hands so they can use their abilities accordingly. A lot to stop.

Fortunately, the Vikings were afforded an extra day of rest with the 49ers playing in the latest Week 1 window. Any leg-up on the 2023 NFC champions that retained 67.2% of its active roster is welcome.

3 Things 'Bout the 49ers

1. Run CMC or UDFA

Whether McCaffrey plays or not is irrelevant to 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan. At least historically, his approach persists: He's going to feed players in the backfield and try to wear down opposing defenses.

On Monday night that involved a career game for 2022 undrafted running back Jordan Mason and a greater "wide-back" workload for Samuel. The former rumbled for 147 yards and one touchdown on 28 carries, forcing a Week 1-best 13 missed tackles according to Next Gen Stats' tackle probability model.

Samuel rushed eight times for 23 yards and one touchdown – he also caught five of nine targets for 54 yards, with Next Gen Stats counting 36 of the 54 yards after catches and 19 of those being above what was expected on the plays. The initial tally represented the dual-threat's most rushes since an 8-52-1 split in the 2022 opener.

On the MNF broadcast, play-by-play announcer Joe Buck shared a telling stat: Mason's touchdown counted as the 40^th rushing touchdown by a 49ers undrafted free agent since Shanahan took over in 2017.

It seems the 49ers will be confident in their ground attack regardless of McCaffrey's status.

2. Training camp holdouts

Two of San Francisco's elite players, Williams and the team's top returning receiver Brandon Aiyuk, did not finalize contract reworkings until just before the season.

Williams didn't appear rusty. The three-time First-Team All-Pro (2021-23) stifled a normally active Jets pass-rush. On 34 pressure opportunities, per Pro Football Focus, Williams permitted a single QB hurry. Next Gen Stats counted the tally at 33 without allowing a pressure.

Aiyuk tied for second on the 49ers offense with five targets but reeled in only two catches for 28 yards. PFF credited him with one drop.

3. Familiar backup

Former Vikings quarterback Joshua "Passtronaut" Dobbs made San Francisco's roster as a backup after going 34-for-51 (66.7%) with 352 yards, one touchdown and one interception, plus 28 yards and two scores on six runs over three preseason appearances.

Dobbs had a roller-coaster stint in Minnesota. In five games (four starts), he led a gutsy comeback off the bench at Atlanta, dominated New Orleans in his home debut, saw a 17-9 lead slip away at Denver and threw four picks against Chicago. He was 10-for-23 with 63 yards in his last Vikings action at Las Vegas on Dec. 10, barely more than a month after he was acquired via a trade with the Cardinals.

As Darnold can attest, Dobbs is in a good environment to learn and grow as an NFL quarterback. It's unlikely he's needed Sunday; nevertheless, he's deserving of a shout and support for future good luck.

2 Vikings to Track

Justin Jefferson: Surprised to see Jets here again? Nope, didn't think so.

The phenom needs four catches to become the ninth Vikings player all-time with 400 career receptions and five to pass Vikings Ring of Honor member Ahmad Rashad for eighth all-time.

Jefferson caught four passes for 59 yards last week at New York, highlighted by a 44-yard reception and a 3-yard touchdown catch. He enters Sunday's game with 5,958 receiving yards through 61 games played. With 42 against the 49ers, Jefferson can tie a record set by Hall of Famer Lance Alworth (with the Chargers in the AFL) for the fastest receiver to 6,000 yards. Alworth reached the mark in his 62^nd game (1967 season).

Aaron Jones, Sr.: Also making a repeat appearance here in consecutive weeks, Jones is seeking his seventh consecutive game (including playoffs) with at least 100 scrimmage yards. If he hits that mark, it will be his third game in a row against San Francisco with triple digits.

Jones came close to 100 rushing yards, finishing with 94, last week at New York.

1 Key Matchup

Vikings run defense vs. 49ers rushing offense

San Francisco's rushing offense is proven. Minnesota's run defense under Flores is, too.

In 2023, the Vikings tied for the fourth-fewest yards allowed per rush (3.8). On Sunday, they picked up where they left off, yielding to the Giants just 74 yards on 21 attempts (3.5 avg.). That's important.

Because the 49ers are riding a massive wave of momentum in the run game, and Samuel is a force multiplier across the San Francisco offense.

"It's the right fit and the right system," Flores replied when he was asked which has the bigger impact: San Francisco's system on Samuel or vice-versa. "I think Coach Shanahan does a great job of putting those guys in positions to make plays, using their skill sets to be explosive, to create explosive plays. To run the ball the way they want to run it, to be physical, to be violent. … I think it's a combination of the two. Obviously, Deebo is very, very talented, but it's a perfect fusion of talent and schematics."

A key to slowing San Francisco is flying to the football. Few do that better on the Vikings defense than second-year linebacker Ivan Pace, Jr., who left guard Blake Brandel compared earlier this week to a "jacked-up pitbull" and "heat-seeking missile." Pace had six tackles and a quarterback hit in the opener.

"He's certainly being talked about from a game plan standpoint this week, with an aggressive, violent rushing attack that we're going to see," Flores said about Pace. "We're definitely talking about him … and how to deploy [him] along with a lot of our other guys [against] what is going to be a big challenge."

Friday Updates …

The following content was added Sept. 6 after initial publication.

Status Report

Vikings prepare approach without Addison

Addison was ruled out Friday and won't be able to build on last season's impressive game.

Having Jefferson available this go-round is key – and so is the receiver depth behind him.

Ahem, Jalen Nailor, Brandon Powell, Trent Sherfield, Sr., and Trishton Jackson. The first three players were active in Week 1 when Nailor caught a 21-yard touchdown. Jackson will be making his 2024 debut Sunday after a strong preseason.

"We're going to have to pick up for Jordan with some guys that we're confident in starting with Speedy (Nailor) and B.P. and Trent, and then Trishton mixing in at all three of those spots," O'Connell commented Friday. "I think you're going to see a variety of all those guys doing different jobs throughout the game.

"That's why Trishton is here," O'Connell added. "We've got a lot of confidence in him. He knows what to do and how to do it. Plays with great technique and fundamentals. … Having a guy like that in these moments is very comforting for us as an offensive staff and I think for Sam, as well."

Jackson was Mr. Touchdown in the preseason, making one trip to the end zone in each of the three exhibitions, with nine catches for 154 yards on 10 targets. The 26-year-old had two catches last season.

O'Connell also expressed confidence in Powell, who played 30 snaps in the opener without a target. Powell posted a 29-324-1 receiving line in 2023 and made a few plays that likely stuck in fans' and opponents' minds, O'Connell said. Powell factored into the successful Vikings rushing attack Week 1.

There's potential, too, for Minnesota to lean more on its bigger personnel groupings.

"I think you saw it last week [with] Josh [Oliver] and C.J. [Ham] both in the game," O'Connell said. "We had some great runs with that grouping in there and then we were able to generate an explosive pass."

The key to marrying the run with the pass and putting defenses in conflict is staying in manageable D&Ds (down and distances). Staying away from penalties on early downs will help keep O'Connell's full call sheet available.

Memorable Week 2 Quotes

Jefferson on if watching how San Francisco defended the Jets in Week 1 helps him

"Teams play me totally different. I mean there's things that I can take from that game for sure; things that I can take from last year, how they played us last year. But I've seen it a tremendous [amount of] times, teams play totally different when I'm on the field vs. when I'm not out there on the field. That's things to look at. We feel like they have a pretty consistent tendency of what they play and how they play the No. 1 receiver, so we have a game plan for that. We've been in the film room, so we're excited."

Aaron Jones on 49ers defense and LB Fred Warner

"They're the defending conference champs, so that's the standard. That's where every other team in this league is trying to get to. I'd like to give them their respect. And then Fred Warner, he's one of the best linebackers in this league. He has a nose for the ball, punching the ball out, so we have to be conscious when it comes to ball security. When we're in traffic [we have to] double-wrap it. … We know [their style]. They're aggressive. They're attacking. We like to say 'bully ball.' We're ready for what's to come and we know what to expect."

Brian Flores on his first impression of Andrew Van Ginkel in Miami

"Fast. He had a kind of sneaky, slippery, instinctive play style that we just really liked, you know, just felt like he was a JUCO [player], and then he goes to Wisconsin, so he's a little bit undeveloped. But like a lot of guys, he can play. He's fast, he's tough, he makes plays. If we can develop him, and he's got the traits and the tangibles to develop, kind of like some of those undrafted guys we talked about, although he was drafted, he's got those same traits, he'll develop and potentially turn into what he's become. And a lot of that's really – not a lot of it – all of it is his doing. He's earned it, and it's been cool to kind of watch him grow the entire way, and then be away for a couple years, and then get him back and see that there's even more growth. And we got close with his family – his wife Sam, he's got two little kids. It's good to watch him grow that way, as well. So, I'm proud of him and excited to continue working with him."

Harrison Phillips on his focus on improving pass rush

"You know, we're not out here swimming blocks and trying to break sack records – I understand what my job is here. But yeah, I would love to see a jump at being able to create interior pressure. If this was 2001 and teams were in 23 personnel and you needed those [types of defensive tackles], that's what I'm built for. But as the game evolves, it seems like they're really valuing people who can disrupt quarterback timing, so I'm trying to elevate my game and change my game to how the game's evolved in the NFL."

Head Coach Kevin O'Connell on Christian Darrisaw's growth

"I've just felt such an urgency from him to attempt to be one of the best at the position. He already has really established himself, but really what I've really challenged him to do is every rep, every day, you know, no matter what your matchup is in the game, whether you're lining up against 97 (Dexter Lawrence) or [Brian] Burns or [Kayvon] Thibodeaux last week, like whoever that player is, you've got to treat it like your job. In many cases, we're probably by scheme asking you to do a significant job, so the more you can consistently be Christian Darrisaw every single snap, which he has basically been the majority of my time here, and I've just seen him really have a laser focus to do that daily since we came back to camp. And it's awesome to see when you see a guy get rewarded as he should have with the contract and then be the same guy every single day. It makes you feel good as the head coach."

Wes Phillips on the run game helping the pass game

"I think they have to honor it more. They have to – if you really want to stop the run and bring more guys closer to the box, now you're leaving yourselves susceptible to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, those guys and some of the other guys who made plays for us in the pass game. You know, you've gotta pick your poison a little bit, and hopefully we can take advantage of whichever one they want to give us. We're just about being efficient and getting yards and then trying to get some explosive plays mixed in there, get some chunks. But we'll take the yards any way we can get them."

From the Inbox

Our defense is awesome. Our offense could be top 8.

— Carl B.

It was quite the debut for Minnesota's new-look defense, which scored six — Hello, Van Ginkle! — and allowed six, including three after a very short field at the start of the game.

The sample size is relatively small, but there were impacts made at all levels of the defense. Newcomers blended nicely with returnees and kept the Giants from getting anything going.

New York averaged 3.5 yards per carry, and Daniel Jones finished with a passer rating of 44.3. The QB was sacked five times and intercepted twice.

Minnesota's offense quickly answered New York's field goal and put together the first 99-yard drive by the team since 2008.

Both sides of the ball are expecting tough challenges Sunday in hosting the defending NFC Champions who returned about two-thirds of their roster.

Darnold was effective because, in part, the Giants were not able to pressure him consistently. Does this mean that perhaps the Vikings offensive line is likely to have more success in protecting the QB this year as compared to previous seasons? (Or, too early to tell? And/or, it's mostly because they played a team with a weak rush?) Thank you!

— Al Seymour

New York's defensive front has multiple high picks and is built around Dexter Lawrence II, an elite interior defensive lineman, as well as a good coach in former Vikings assistant Andre Patterson.

Darrisaw was dominant against Giants edge defenders Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Blake Brandel was graded highly by external sites at left guard, and the group helped an offense with a new starter at quarterback and running back run smoothly.

Earning respect in the run game with a day like Minnesota had can help pass protection. Darnold was able to play on rhythm.