The Minnesota Vikings really needed their Week 6 bye. Not only were they returning from a ridiculous 10-day stay in Ireland and England, they had a load of players that needed some time to get healthy. The last time they were on the field for NFL action, the Vikings offensive line looked like this:
LT2
LG3
C3
RG1
RT3
Thank goodness for right guard Will Fries. He was the only offensive line starter that was on the field in London for the game-wining drive against the Cleveland Browns. Fries and a mix-and-match of healthy and available linemen were tasked with keeping Carson Wentz safe against one of the league’s best defensive lines.
The Vikings have injuries scattered across the roster but the offensive line has been particularly hard hit. It’s tough to get anything going offensively when there’s a constant scramble to field five healthy players up front. A big reason for any preseason optimism for the Vikings was due to the rebuilt offensive line. The projected five starters have yet to take a snap together.
The injuries that have peppered the first five games of the season have been frustrating. Return from the Week 6 bye has brought some good news on the injury front. As the Vikings prepare for Sunday’s big game against the Philadelphia Eagles, every injured player not on injured reserve has taken part in this week’s practices.
Wednesday
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, DL (Hip) - Limited
J.J. McCarthy, QB (Ankle) - Limited
Brian O’Neill, T (Knee) - Limited
Andrew Van Ginkel, OLB (Neck) - Limited
Tyler Batty, OLB (Knee) - Full
Brian Cashman, LB (Hamstring) - Full
Donovan Jackson, G (Wrist) - Limited
Michael Jurgens, C (Hamstring) - Full
Carson Wentz, QB (Shoulder) - Full
Thursday
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, DL (Hip) - Limited
J.J. McCarthy, QB (Ankle) - Limited
Brian O’Neill, T (Knee) - Limited
Andrew Van Ginkel, OLB (Neck) - Limited
Tyler Batty, OLB (Knee) - Full
Brian Cashman, LB (Hamstring) - Full
Donovan Jackson, G (Wrist) - Full
Michael Jurgens, C (Hamstring) - Full
Carson Wentz, QB (Shoulder) - Full
Since everything football revolves around the quarterback position, it’s probably best to start there. It looks like Carson Wentz is going to start his fourth game. Head coach Kevin O’Connell has said that he wants to see J.J. McCarthy go through a full week of practice before he’s reinserted as the team’s starter. He hasn’t gotten that complete week this week. The NFL schedule won’t allow him to get that next week as the Vikings play the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday. In that case, it looks like the earliest McCarthy might return is the Week 9 game against the Detroit Lions.
The probable return of guard Donovan Jackson and Michael Jurgens is great news for the offensive line. Jackson was improving every game before wrist surgery sidelined him for the two international games. If their one game together is any indication, Christian Darrisaw and Jackson will form a dynamite left side now and into the future. Blake Brandel’s play at center against the Browns was eyeopening. It was his first time ever playing the position. Brandel and Jurgens are solid options as Ryan Kelly recovers on injured reserve from a pair of concussions. Brian O’Neill’s availability for the Eagles is the biggest question of the offensive line. If he can go, the Vikings will have as close to their top line as they’ve had all season.
On defense, Blake Cashman’s return is huge. A hamstring injury in the season-opener against the Chicago Bears landed him on injured reserve. He’s the defensive signal-caller and heart of the Vikings defense. His versatility was missed for five-plus games. Eric Wilson was solid in his place but Cashman is a real-time problem-solver for the defense.
Andrew Van Ginkel’s availability is the biggest injury question on defense. He’s missed most of the first five games with a neck issue. Like Cashman, he’s a versatile problem-solver. His stat line for the Week 3 Cincinnati Bengals is perhaps the best example of his potential impact on any game. In that game, he played only eight snaps. With those eight snaps, he had two sacks. He’s a difference-maker. He’s been missed and his return is near. Hopefully, that return is this week.
Each week this season, the Vikings injury report has been peppered, at times dominated, by DNPs. DID NOT PRACTICE. This week, only Christian Darrisaw had a DNP and that was for his weekly rest day as he solidifies his return for last season’s torn ACL. Hopefully, a few more of the limited participants (O’Neill and Van Ginkel) become full participants in today’s final practice in advance of Sunday’s game against the Eagles.