Kevin O'Connell, Vikings
Getty
Head coach Kevin O'Connell of the Minnesota Vikings.
Injuries ravaged the Minnesota Vikings both ahead of and during Week 1 against the Chicago Bears, which played a role in even more health issues popping up Sunday night against the Atlanta Falcons.
Minnesota’s offensive line was absent left tackle Christian Darrisaw for the entire game, as he continues rehabbing from a knee injury he suffered during the middle of the 2024 campaign. New center Ryan Kelly also exited the contest against Atlanta early due to a concussion and remains in the NFL’s mandatory concussion protocol, which he will attempt to navigate this week.
The absences of two key cogs on the offensive line contributed to 11 quarterback hits and six sacks, which took a massive toll on starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy. As a result, McCarthy sprained his ankle and is going to miss between two and four games, according to a report from Adam Schefter of ESPN.
That means Carson Wentz will start next weekend against the Cincinnati Bengals, potentially without Darrisaw or Kelly in the lineup to protect him, and also likely absent running back Aaron Jones who is dealing with a hamstring injury.
“Both Ryan Kelly and [reserve offensive tackle] Justin Skule are in the concussion protocol. Came in with some positive early signs today, but that is totally in the hands of the medical professionals as they work through the protocol,” head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters Monday, September 15. “Aaron Jones — we’re still in the process of evaluating his hamstring … and [he’s] likely to be down this week.”
Christian Darrisaw May Have Best Chance to Return for Vikings Against Bengals
Christian Darrisaw, Minnesota Vikings
GettyLeft tackle Christian Darrisaw of the Minnesota Vikings.
Darrisaw has a slightly better chance to play based on O’Connell’s comments Monday, as the trajectory of his health has continued to improve over the past two weeks while the opposite is true for McCarthy, Jones and Kelly.
“It’s been a true day-to-day approach to it,” O’Connell said of Darrisaw, adding he believes the star tackle is close to a return. “He’s doing everything he can to be out there. He’s done a phenomenal job.”
If Darrisaw can get back onto the field, that should shore up a considerable amount of the issues the offensive line has had protecting the quarterback over the past two games.
Kelly is also of vital importance because he handles so many of the unit’s calls from the center position. Second-year lineman Michael Jurgens filled in for Kelly against the Falcons and struggled in what were the first regular-season snaps of his NFL career.
Bengals Will Be Without Joe Burrow Against Vikings Next Sunday
Joe Burrow
GettyQuarterback Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Given the state of the line and assuming the worst for Week 3, it might even be better for the Vikings and McCarthy that he is almost certain to miss the contest against Cincinnati, as playing could result in more physical punishment that might derail his development to at least some degree.
And not all the bad injury luck is on Minnesota’s side of the equation. The Bengals will be without quarterback Joe Burrow, who will have surgery to repair a toe injury he suffered Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Burrow could miss up to three months while he recovers.
The Bengals’ offensive line had about as much trouble keeping the Jaguars’ defense off of Burrow’s back as the Vikings’ had holding the Falcons’ edge rushers out of the pocket, so next weekend’s game may come down to which defensive front can do more damage to the opposing team’s backup QB.