A date with the defending NFC champions awaits Sunday.
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 Wednesday at Winter Park.
On the docket today is a morning podium session for Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer and quarterback Sam Bradford will speak during open locker room.
Panthers Head Coach Ron Rivera and linebacker Luke Kuechly 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 of the week.
Mike Wobschall identified 5 storylines leading up to the game on Sunday this morning.
Follow the running log below for Wednesday's news going forward:
3:14 PM - The first injury report of the week has been published.
For the Vikings: Adrian Peterson (knee) and Sharrif Floyd (knee) did not participate. Kyle Rudolph (groin), Danielle Hunter (knee), Eric Kendricks (ankle), Xavier Rhodes (knee) and MyCole Pruitt (knee) were limited. Zach Line (neck) and Jerick McKinnon (toe).
For the Panthers: Jeremy Cash (hamstring), Kawann Short (shoulder), Jonathan Stewart (hamstring) and Trai Turner (ankle) did not participate.
2:14 PM - Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly met with the Twin Cities media Wednesday afternoon in advance of Sunday's game in Carolina.
Kuechly said the Carolina defense is hard at work getting ready for Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford, a player who impressed the Panthers with his play during Sunday night's win over Green Bay.
"You kind of know what you're going to get with him," Kuechly said about Bradford. "He's a smart guy, very intelligent, he knows what you're doing on defense while trying to attack an offense.
"He throws a great ball, you saw it obviously in the game against the Packers," he added. "He threw a beautiful ball to Stefon Diggs for a touchdown and one to (Kyle) Rudolph there in the back of the end zone."
12:21 PM - New Vikings running back Ronnie Hillman met with the media Wednesday morning in the locker room.
The 25-year-old running back was a third-round pick in 2012 and spent the last four seasons in Denver. He has 1,842 career rushing yards and 12 career rushing touchdowns.
Hillman faced the Vikings last season as he had 11 carries for 103 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown run.
Hillman said he's excited to be in Minnesota.
"They've got a lot of young talent here," Hillman said. "Even with the injuries, they still have a lot of young talent.
"They're a tough team, I played these guys last year," he added. "Their defense is great."
11:49 AM -Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford stepped to the podium prior to his head coach.
Bradford spoke about what it means to lose Adrian Peterson in the backfield to his knee injury that he suffered Sunday night against the Packers.
"Obviously it's hard to replace a player like Adrian Peterson," Bradford said. "He's the best running back in the NFL."
In Bradford's short time in Minnesota, he's noticed the Vikings depth at each position and he's quickly followed suit from mike Zimmer's mindset that the team will continue to move forward with whoever can step in at each position.
"It's just kind of the next man up. I think we have a great group of running backs and I think the guys behind him are eager for the opportunity."
11:37 AM - Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer and Sam Bradford just spoke during podium sessions with Twin Cities media members.
Zimmer announced that the Vikings have placed left tackle Matt Kalil on injured reserve and have signed running back Ronnie Hillman.
Zimmer confirmed that Adrian Peterson is scheduled to have surgery on a torn meniscus he suffered Sunday night in Minnesota's 17-14 win against Green Bay in the inaugural regular season game at U.S. Bank Stadium. The coach said recovery time for Peterson is yet to be determined.
"We're not the type of team that's going to sit back and cry," Zimmer said.
The quarterback, fresh off his first start with Minnesota, said it's hard to replace a player like Peterson, the three-time rushing champ and seven-time Pro Bowler. Bradford, however, emphasized that he has faith in running backs Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata.
McKinnon and Asiata worked in tandem to fill the void for Peterson in all but one game of the 2014 season.
Zimmer said T.J. Clemmings will start in place of Kalil, and McKinnon will start in place of Peterson when the Vikings (2-0) visit the defending NFC Champion Carolina Panthers (1-1).
11:25 AM - The Vikings announced a pair of roster moves Wednesday as they signed running back Ronnie Hillman and put left tackle Matt Kalil on injured reserve.
Hillman, who spent the past four seasons with the Broncos, has 1,842 career rushing yards and 12 career rushing touchdowns.
Kalil, a first-round pick in 2012, had started 66 consecutive games to begin his career.
10:30 AM -Earlier this morning, Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
He led NFL with 182 receiving yards on nine receptions (both career highs) in Minnesota's Week Two victory over division-rival Green Bay.
Currently the Vikings wide receiver leads the NFL with 285 receiving yards on 16 catches (17.8 average), becoming just the third Viking with back-to-back 100-yard receiving games in Weeks One and Two and the first since Cris Carter in 1997 to accomplish the feat.
