Replacing injured Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook is particularly difficult for the Vikings at the goal line, where Alexander Mattison was among players stalled on a trio of two-point conversion attempts during Sunday's 29-27 loss at Detroit.
Mattison found room between the end zones, picking up 124 yards on 25 touches, including an 8-yard touchdown run in which he fought through multiple defenders. He wasn't so successful on his two-point carry, when Lions defensive lineman Nick Williams got past right tackle Brian O'Neill to hit lead blocker C.J. Ham. That left Mattison alone with a linebacker short of the goal line.
"One of the guys ended up [breaking through]," Mattison said Monday, "just kind of cluttered it up, and I tried to be my own blocker and get in there one-on-one with the backer. He had leverage on me. We just have to clean it up on the inside, and we'll make sure that we convert that next time."
Short-yardage situations have been a grind for the Vikings' run game this season. Mattison's touchdown Sunday was the team's seventh rushing score; only the Texans have fewer. The Vikings haven't often blocked well enough to run through the finish line.
They missed five consecutive point-after situations against the Lions and 49ers, including four two-point tries and kicker Greg Joseph's missed extra point at San Francisco. Under Mike Zimmer, only the 2018 Vikings offense has had less success running inside the 10-yard line than this season's 35% first down/touchdown rate.
"It's hard to score, let alone be a yard away with 11 guys stacking up against you," Mattison said. "Everything kind of has to go perfect. So, if a block might not get all the way covered or whatever it might be."
Thielen, Cook listed DNP
Players participated in a walkthrough Monday with only three full days to prepare for Thursday night's game against Pittsburgh. The team released an injury report, but only "estimated" the participation of injured players.
Receiver Adam Thielen, who suffered a high ankle sprain on the first drive against the Lions, was among four not practicing, as well as Cook (shoulder), tackle Christian Darrisaw (ankle) and linebacker Blake Lynch (hip).