Players Returning

The first five games of the Minnesota Vikings 2025 season has been an up-down ride. The win-lose-win-lose-win pattern of those games is a reflection of that. If one was so inclined to dig into reasons for the inconsistency, it wouldn’t take long to land on injuries. A look at those injuries must start with the offensive line. A big reason for pre-season optimism was a rebuilt offensive line. With standout tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill already in place, the Vikings focused on overhauling the interior. It was a clear priority of the offseason. Center Ryan Kelly and guard Will Fries were targeted and signed in free agency. Guard Donovan Jackson was selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy was going to be protected brilliantly by this offensive line. Running backs Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason were going to run through gaping holes. It was going to be so beautiful. Through five games, the five starting offensive linemen have yet to take a single snap together. Coming back from the ACL injury that ended early his 2024 season, left tackle Darrisaw was eased onto the field. His first start was Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals. It shouldn’t surprise that game was the Vikings best of the first five games. The offense just looked different with Darrisaw on the field. Rookie left guard Jackson improved with each game but injured his wrist against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2 and had surgery the Monday following the Bengals game in Week 3. Center Ryan Kelly was placed on injured reserve after his second concussion of the season. His situation is the most concerning as two concussions in as many weeks isn’t a good thing. Player and team must be careful moving forward. Kelly’s replacement, second-year center Michael Jurgens injured his hamstring at some point in the same game that Kelly left with a concussion. That forced Blake Brandel to play center in the Week 5 London game against the Cleveland Browns. It was the first time he’d played center in his football life. Right tackle Brian O’Neill sprained his MCL on the first possession of the Week 4 Dublin game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Right guard Will Fries is the only offensive lineman to start every game. The Vikings often had to dig so deep into the offensive line depth that tight end Josh Oliver was on call. 

While the offensive line was particularly hard hit by injuries, it wasn’t the only position that had to scramble to replace starters. On defense, linebacker Brian Cashman left the Week 1 game against the Chicago Bears with an injured hamstring. Those can be tricky and the Vikings took no chances and placed him on injured reserve. Outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel has been dealing with an injured neck since training camp. He played against the Bears, sat against the Falcons, and played a bit against the Bengals. Somehow, he had two sacks in only a handful of snaps in that game. He hasn’t played since. Put simply, in Brian Flores’ aggressive, unpredictable defense, Cashman and Van Ginkel solve problems in real time. In many ways, the defense is built on the versatility of those two players. When they aren’t on the field, the Vikings defense isn’t quite the Vikings defense. 

If the quarterback is involved, any injury concerns starts with the position. J.J. McCarthy suffered an ankle injury in the Week 2 game against the Bears. Carson Wentz started the next three games. His veteran experience seemed to bring some stability to the offense. The highlight of the three games he played was the last possession of the last game. He was excellent and the offense was brilliant in the gotta-have-it drive that won the Week 5 game in London against the Cleveland Browns. 

McCarthy wasn’t the only offensive playmaker that came out of the Week 2 game against the Bears with an injury. Starting running back Aaron Jones Sr. left the game with a hamstring injury. Jones was immediately placed on injured reserve. That opened the door for Jordan Mason to be the team’s lead back. 

So, the Vikings managed the five pre-bye games with six offensive starters and two defensive starters missing multiple games with injuries. Seven of those eight players entered the bye week on the sidelines with injuries. There’s some good injury news. Several of those players could return as soon as this week. At his appearance in front of the media yesterday, head coach Kevin O’Connell revealed that the following players will practice this week in advance of the Week 7 game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

J.J. McCarthy

Brian O’Neill

Donovan Jackson

Michael Jurgens

Blake Cashman

The optimist in me wouldn’t be surprised if all of the above are on the field against the Eagles. Or the following Thursday against the Los Angeles Chargers.