Vikings defense getting game-changing help for crucial Lions battle

Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores | Stephen Maturen/GettyImagesIt has been a long month-plus for Minnesota Vikings fans to wait and hear about when they would get one of their top defensive players, Andrew Van Ginkel, back on the field. That is much closer now than it ever has been.

The Vikings released their first injury report for their Week 9 game against the Detroit Lions. Van Ginkel was once again on there, but this time was a full participant in practice for the first time since September.

This season, Van Ginkel has played in just two games and hasn't been on the field since Minnesota's Week 3 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, where he had two sacks in just eight…