The Minnesota Vikings have been dealing with injuries all season, but perhaps no position group has been banged up as badly as their offensive line. Minnesota has deployed 14 unique offensive line combinations through five games. Because of that, J.J. McCarthy and Carson Wentz have taken 21 sacks.
PFF ranked all 32 offensive line units heading into Week 7. With Ryan Kelly and Brian O’Neill out, the Vikings’ line is ranked 22nd.
The team’s offensive line has surrendered 52 pressures this season, including 12 sacks, across 179 pass plays. The resulting leading 82.1 PFF pass-blocking efficiency rating ranks 25th in the league through six weeks.
Christian Darrisaw is rightfully listed as the Vikings’ best player on the line. He has played in three games after missing the first two due to an ACL/MCL injury suffered last season. So, although his 70.1 pass-blocking grade may be modest (25th among tackles this year), he isn’t back to full strength, either.
The Vikings are hoping to get O’Neill back at some point. He was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday after suffering a knee injury against the Steelers in Week 4. His return will bring stability.
Donovan Jackson was limited on Wednesday but a full participant on Thursday following wrist surgery that held him out of the past two games.
The only position that doesn’t have a clear path to return to full strength is center. Kelly suffered the fourth documented concussion of his career in Week 4, and his future is in jeopardy. Jurgens is slated to fill in for him now that he himself is back from injury, although guard Blake Brandel filled in admirably as an emergency center in Week 5.
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