Blake Brandel, Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
This offseason the Minnesota Vikings spent a significant amount of money on the offensive line. After the interior of the group flopped last season, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah knew where he needed to build.
The Vikings unit zoomed up the total cost rankings across the league as a whole, but veteran additions raised the overall water level too. Fast forward to where we are now and Minnesota has just two projected starters available for Week 5, and they don’t have a center left on the roster.
New center incoming for Minnesota Vikings
Ryan Kelly suffered a concussion against the Pittsburgh Steelers and left the game. It was his second concussion in a matter of four weeks, and would be six recorded during his career going back to Alabama. His backup, Michael Jurgens, appeared on the injury report with a hamstring issue Wednesday, and the team is now without a center on the roster.
That has led Kevin O’Connell to hold open tryouts ahead of their Week 5 game against the Cleveland Browns.
If Michael Jurgens can't play, the next center option is Blake Brandel. I recall him taking some practice snaps there over the years but not sure he's ever played center in a game. Rookie UDFA Joe Huber played a handful of snaps at center in college, and also in the Shrine game. https://t.co/M5W2b6jmil
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) October 2, 2025
The Vikings took Blake Brandel in the 2020 NFL Draft. He has since played in 60 games across his five seasons in the NFL. Not one of them has come at center, and none came at the position during his 48 collegiate games either.
“On Brandel, he spoke with reporters, it looks like today [Thursday] after practice. And, according to our friend Kevin Seifert of ESPN, he confirmed that while he has had a lot of practice reps at center over the past few years, he has never played the position in a game in his life. So that sort of tells you where things stand right now.”
Judd Zulgad – Purple Daily
It’s one thing for Carson Wentz to need a level of chemistry with Michael Jurgens. He had previously played with Kelly in Indianapolis and already had a relationship established. It’s entirely different for the quarterback to establish a cadence with a new center, and one that has never before played the position.
Snaps on Sunday against Cleveland will absolutely be something to watch. The center position is one that dictates the direction of the entire offense. Beyond just snaps though, false start, delay of game, and general consistency of the offense is all dictated by the correct understanding of when the ball needs to move.
Minnesota’s line was out of sync last week without Kelly, and things could understandably take a further step backwards on Sunday. How quickly Brandel can find a level of comfort may be the biggest key to victory.
MN Vikings offensive line in shambles
With Brandel needing to take over the center role, that means other positions on the line being in flux as well. Christian Darrisaw hasn’t practiced this week, but there isn’t any concern about his availability for Sunday. He and Will Fries are the only starters set to take the field as things stand now.
Undrafted rookie free agent Joe Huber is in line to start at left tackle. Brandel would be at center, and backup tackle Justin Skule will take over for Brian O’Neill on the right side. Skule struggled mightily while filling in for Darrisaw, and Huber has a whopping 12 total offensive snaps under his belt.
Joe Huber, Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Although the Vikings signed Matt Waletzko on Wednesday, he is a tackle and doesn’t help the center depth. Henry Byrd is among the other practice squad linemen that could be elevated to supplement tackle Walter Rouse in case of another injury.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell will need to make sure he schemes the ball out of Carson Wentz’s hands quickly. There’s not a reason for O’Connell to think that the offense will be at its peak this week, but it’s a survive and advance mentality.
The hope is that Minnesota can best the Browns and then use the bye week to generate a new level of health. If that can play out, then there’s real hope for the rest of the season.
Mentioned in this article: Blake Brandel Michael Jurgens Ryan Kelly More About: Minnesota Vikings