Minnesota has a strong roster for 2021, but there are some places where the team is thin.

Of course, the Vikings are hurt by any player going down with an injury, but there are some who could affect the team’s playoff chances more than others.

The Vikings interior defensive line will not be featured on this list. Mostly because losing Dalvin Tomlinson, Michael Pierce or Sheldon Richardson isn’t too dire, because the other healthy players can fill in.

Same goes for cornerback. Minnesota has four potential starting-caliber cornerbacks in Cameron Dantzler, Patrick Peterson, Bashaud Breeland and Mackensie Alexander. It helps to have depth.

Just a note: this list is in no specific order.

DE Danielle Hunter

Nov 4, 2018; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter (99) celebrates after a sack during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

As Vikings fans saw in 2020, the pass rush looks a lot different without Hunter. Yannick Ngakoue led the team in sacks, despite only playing six games. The Vikings edge rushers couldn’t get pressure and the defense was picked apart.

Despite all the changes Minnesota made on defense, losing Hunter could cause similar problems in the pass rush in 2021.

LB Anthony Barr

Nov 25, 2018; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr (55) reacts after making a play during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports

Similar to Hunter, Barr also missed a lot of time in 2020. Barr suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2 against the Colts.

Without Barr, the defense struggled. Barr is the team’s defensive general and he commands serious attention in the pass rush. His presence isn’t always noticed by Vikings fans, but his absence was felt in 2020. He can’t get hurt again in 2021.

LB Eric Kendricks

Minnesota Vikings middle linebacker Eric Kendricks intercepts the ball intended for Detroit Lions tight end T.J. Hockenson in the end zone during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 in Minneapolis. (Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune via AP)

Like Barr, Kendricks plays an important role on the Vikings defense. He might be the best player in the entire unit. Not only that, but it doesn’t seem likely that Minnesota could replace either Barr or Kendricks if one of the two were to suffer a serious injury.

Kendricks is a stellar coverage linebacker. The only possible replacement on the roster is Chazz Surratt, a rookie who would really need to adjust to the NFL quickly to be even close to Kendricks’ skill level.

WR Justin Jefferson

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson celebrates after a 71-yard touchdown during the third quarter of an NFL football games against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020 in Minneapolis. (Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune via AP)

The wide receiver depth chart is maybe the thinnest on the team. Losing Jefferson would put Chad Beebe or Bisi Johnson in the wide receiver two role. It’s not impossible for the Vikings to move the chains in that situation, but it’s a lot more difficult.

WR Adam Thielen

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

For the same reasons as Jefferson, Minnesota can’t afford to lose Thielen. Beebe, Johnson, Ihmir Smith-Marsette and others can’t be expected to fill the void Thielen and Jefferson would leave if either were to get injured. Maybe the Vikings will go out and land a wide receiver three in free agency. Until then, this will be a thin position group.

QB Kirk Cousins

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) celebrates after throwing a pass for a touchdown to wide receiver Chad Beebe (12) (not pictured) in the fourth quarter during an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Minneapolis. The Vikings defeated the Panthers 28-27. (AP Photo/David Berding)

I’ll say this: the vast majority of NFL teams can’t afford to lose their starting quarterbacks. The Vikings are no different. Despite adding Kellen Mond in the third round, the team will have to hope Cousins stays healthy. Mond is a project and it’s unlikely he will be ready for a starting quarterback role in 2021.

RB Dalvin Cook

Sep 27, 2020; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33) runs for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Outside of Cousins, Cook might be the most important player to stay healthy. Cook is coming off two consecutive seasons where he has played 14 games. He only missed one game due to injury in 2020.

Without Cook, the Vikings offense can be ineffective. Just look at the Falcons game this year.

Cook has had injury problems in the past and that has affected the overall success of the team. With Cook healthy, however, the Vikings offense has a chance of being among the best in the league.

The credence of “running backs don’t matter” is based on the fact that running back projections can often be volatile. A lot of that is based around how hard it is for many running backs to stay healthy in one of the league’s most punishing positions.

With Cook, the Vikings have to hope he stays relatively healthy. Maybe the offense can change without him and become more pass-happy, but I doubt it. Without Cook, what Minnesota tries to do becomes all the more difficult.