Defensive end Kenny Willekes hasn't played an NFL game yet, but he's already been held up as an example by Vikings coordinator Andre Patterson for how to respond to setback. On Sunday night against the Cowboys, Willekes will make his delayed pro debut after being elevated from the practice squad on Saturday afternoon.
Willekes, the 2020 seventh-round pick out of Michigan State, is expected to jump into a rotation where a handful of snaps were freed up by Stephen Weatherly's trade to Denver over the bye week. They'll be down another option as third-round rookie Patrick Jones isn't expected to play after suffering a knee injury this week.