Vikings.com staff members Mike Wobschall (@Wobby), Lindsey Young (@LindseyMNSports), Eric Smith (@EricLSmith), Craig Peters (@pcraigers), and Chris Corso (CACorso) will provide some quick hitters on this page that will be updated throughout a busy media Thursday at Winter Park.

On the docket today was a morning podium session for Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer and quarterback Sam Bradford. Available players will also spoke during open locker room.

Giants Head Coach Ben McAdoo and quarterback Eli Manning will each have conference calls with Twin Cities media.

The Vikings have the first practice of the week this afternoon, and both teams will release their first injury reports.

Vikings former wide receiver Randy Moss also  had a conference call with the media this morning.

Follow the running log below for Thursday's news going forward:

3:37 PM -The first injury reports of the week have been relased for both teams.

FB Zach Line (knee), G Alex Boone (hip), TE David Morgan (knee) and DT Sharrif Floyd (knee) all did not participate in practice on Thursday.

LB Anthony Barr (wrist), RB Jerick McKinnon (toe), CB Xavier Rhodes (knee) and TE MyCole Pruitt (knee) were all full participants in practice.

For the New York Giants, CB Eli Apple (hamstring), S Nat Berhe (concussion), T Marshall Newhouse (calf) CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (groin), DT Robert Thomas (illness) and S Darian Thompson (foot) did not participate in practice Thursday.

RB Rashad Jennings (thumb) was limited in particpation and DE Olivier Vernon (wrist) was a full participant.

-CACorso

2:00 PM - The Vikings defense leads the NFL with 15 sacks, is third in the NFL while allowing 13.3 points per game and has a plus-8 turnover ratio through three games.

In other words, Giants head coach Ben Mcadoo knows his team will have their hands full Monday with the likes of Everson Griffen, Linval Joseph, Anthony Barr and Harrison Smith.

McAdoo praised Minnesota's defense on a conference call with the Twin Cities media Thursday afternoon, saying the unit is the backbone of the team.

"Their whole team starts with the defense. It's very sound, fast and multiple," McAdoo said. "They have a nice blend of youth and veteran leadership at all three levels of the defense.

"They are a handful of guys that are playing at an elite level like Griffen, Joseph, Barr and Smith," he added. "They challenge you with what they do schematically, with their coverages and getting after the passer and they play well together in the front end and the back end."

-@EricLSmith

12:25 PM - The Vikings defense didn't see Odell Beckham Jr. in Week 16 last season as the Giants wide receiver was serving a 1-game suspension.

Beckham will be on the field Monday night and will present a tough challenge for Minnesota's secondary.
Vikings cornerback Captain Munnerlyn said he's looking forward to the matchup appreciates the passion Beckham brings to the game.

"He's a competitive guy," Munnerlyn said. "I know a lot of people are like, 'Oh, he needs to calm down.'
"But you can tell how the guy just wants to win so bad," he added. "He can play for me any day. If I were a football coach, he can play for me any day."

-@EricLSmith

11:30 PM -Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer also is well aware of the pressure that Pierre-Paul and Vernon can bring.

He classified them as "two premier rushers."

Zimmer opened his media session by saying he looks forward to seeing fans continue the "Vikings SKOL Chant" that was introduced against the Packers in the first regular-season game at U.S. Bank Stadium. He joked that he'd participate on the sideline if that's what it takes.

As for his defense, which has allowed 13.3 points per game and leads the NFL with 15 sacks, Zimmer said he's most impressed with the way the unit fights.

"They've been in some situations that we've put ourselves in and they've had to fight," Zimmer said. "They don't panic, and they continue to do their job."

11:17 AM -When Vikings QB Sam Bradford addressed the media this morning he had a lot of positive things to say about Minnesota's defense.

"Man, the way those guys are playing right now it helps a lot," Bradford said. "It's nice to know that youre not going to have to go out there and score 50 points to win a football game. We still put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be a good offense and execute."

Bradford's second home start against the Vikings will be another prime-time event.

"Given the last game (at home) was the first time I had played for this team and the first time a game had been played in that stadium and playing against the Packers, there was a lot of anticipation."

The Vikings signal caller said he feels more comfortable with the playbook and his team this time around.

Bradford also said he looks forward to getting the running game going on Monday night, after seeing some balance on offense towards the end of the game against the Panthers.

"Obviously we have't been able to get it going like we expected to," Bradford said. "I thought we did run the ball well in the second half against Carolina and it kept them off balance a bit."

-CACorso

Bradford played New York twice last season as a member of the Eagles and led Philadelphia to a season sweep with 27-7 and 35-30 victories.

Bradford said the Vikings must be mindful of edge rushers Jason Pierre-Paul and free agent signee Olivier Vernon.

"They've got two really good pass rushers on the edge," Bradford said. "We've got to make sure we block those guys."

Bradford said he thought T.J. Clemmings did a good job in his first start at left tackle, and Jeremiah Sirles did well at stepping in at left guard for Alex Boone.

"I thought those guys did an outstanding job last week," Bradford said.

-@pcraigers

10:57 AM - Former Vikings great Randy Moss, the 1998 NFL Rookie of the Year, just spoke during a conference call with members of the media about Minnesota's upcoming game against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football.

Moss will be part of ESPN's broadcast team and set foot in U.S. Bank Stadium for the first time.

He said he's had this game circled on his calendar since the schedule was released, although he's not quite sure what to expect personally. On the field, he anticipates a good game between the Vikings (3-0) and the Giants (2-1).

"I really don't know. I mean, to be honest with you man, my memories that I have are at the Metrodome," Moss said. "I'm more of an old-school guy, you know, closing in on 40 years old. I'm excited to see the fans, see the new stadium and hear the horn and see the Vikings, all of that stuff, but all of my memories lie with the old Metrodome.

"Like I said, I'm excited to see the game," Moss continued. "It's a Monday night game, so anytime coming into a Monday night game is going to be electric. This game is probably going to be a little more exciting than last week's game in New Orleans. I look forward to it. I did circle it on my calendar when I looked at my schedule, and seeing [U.S. Bank Stadium]. I'm excited for it."

-@pcraigers

10:15 AM -Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen won NFC Defensive Player of the Week on Wednesday morning.

He recorded four tackles (three solo), including three tackles for loss and three sacks, and nine quarterback hurries in Minnesota's Week Three victory over the 2015 NFC Champion Carolina Panthers.

This was the first time the Vikings began a season with three straight Player of the Week awards (Offensive, Stefon Diggs Week 2, Defensive, Eric Kendricks Week 1).

Griffen represents the 10th Player of the Week award earned in the past three seasons under Mike Zimmer and the sixth defensive player to earn the honor.

-CACorso