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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Minnesota Vikings left tackle Matt Kalil, who was questionable to play against the New York Giants because of back tightness, is active for Monday night's game. Kalil said on Saturday he expected to play unless he had a setback before Monday's game, and he'll man his normal spot, protecting Josh Freeman's blind side in his first start against a Giants pass rush that has struggled to get to the quarterback. New York has just five sacks this season -- the fewest in the league -- and is one of three teams with fewer sacks than the Vikings' 10 this season. Cornerback A.J. Jefferson is inactive with a sprained ankle, and quarterback Matt Cassel -- who started last Sunday against the Carolina Panthers -- is inactive as the Vikings' third quarterback, as expected, with Christian Ponder as the Vikings' backup. With so many teams reeling from quarterback injuries around the league, the Vikings might be able to find a market for Cassel before next week's trade deadline, and it's possible the 31-year-old would be amenable to a move. The only other inactive player of note for the Vikings is rookie Gerald Hodges, who looked like he might get some playing time with Desmond Bishop heading to injured reserve. The Vikings said they'd seen a sense of urgency from Hodges now that he is only one spot behind Marvin Mitchell on the depth chart, but the Vikings evidently will staff the weak-side linebacker position another way if Mitchell gets hurt. As much as the team is in nickel, and as much as other linebackers -- Larry Dean, Audie Cole and Michael Mauti -- contribute on special teams, Hodges might have lost out there. We'll see in about 70 minutes whether the Vikings can get their second win of the year. I'll be chatting about the game through the night with ESPN Giants reporter Dan Graziano. Come join us here.
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