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Vikings-Packers pregame: Refurbished defense, sans Hunter, debuts with six new starters

with defensive end Danielle Hunter the only starter sidelined.

For a refresher, over half (6 of 11 starting jobs) changed hands from last year’s Week 1 defense, starting with cornerbacks Mike Hughes and Holton Hill down to new defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, who will start 10 days after passing COVID-19 testing protocols to enter TCO Performance Center.

Here’s the official game-day depth chart:

LE Danielle Hunter (replaced by Ifeadi Odenigbo*)
NT Shamar Stephen
DT Jaleel Johnson*
RE Yannick Ngakoue*
SLB Anthony Barr
MLB Eric Kendricks
WLB Eric Wilson*
LCB Mike Hughes*
RCB Holton Hill*
SS Harrison Smith
FS Anthony Harris

*new Week 1 starter

Wilson, the fourth-year linebacker, isn’t really a “new starter,” since he’s made 10 spot starts over the past two years for the Vikings, but he’ll replace Ben Gedeon (reserve/PUP) from last year’s Week 1 lineup.