Who’s starting at quarterback is the biggest public question surrounding the Vikings this week, but there’s also an open competition for who’s snapping to whoever ends up getting the nod.
As the Vikings look poised to return to a near-full starting offensive line, they’re still three games away from veteran center Ryan Kelly (concussion) being able to come off injured reserve.
Backup Michael Jurgens is returning from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the Browns game Oct. 5; Blake Brandel, the Vikings’ O-line everyman, stepped in and played well.
“We’ll go with the best five we can,” Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said Wednesday when asked if Brandel had a shot to hold on to the reins.
During the part of practice open to reporters, Brandel started by taking reps with Carson Wentz while Jurgens and Joe Huber rotated snapping to J.J. McCarthy.
Right guard Will Fries is the only member of the projected starting five to play every game this season. He was complimentary of Brandel’s ability to step in at such a critical position.
“Never having played center before, he was super smart, super tough and to go out there on basically short notice and put himself in position to do really well, I thought he played really awesome,” Fries said Wednesday.
The Vikings could have four of their five projected starting linemen against the Eagles, should right tackle Brian O’Neill and left guard Donovan Jackson indeed play after returning to practice this week.