Injuries May Implode the Vikings Playoff Hopes
Ted Schwerzler
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You could have made the argument that Minnesota may not have needed to play their starters against the Green Bay Packers. If that would’ve been the case, a primary focus would have been placed on skill position players. Ultimately though, the injuries that have mounted and these injuries may implode the Vikings playoff hopes.
Maybe Kirk Cousins should have sat to heal from taking a career high amount of sacks. He’s been hit a ridiculous amount this season, and there’s a very slim chance that the No. 1 seed would go to the Vikings even with the Philadelphia Eagles losing on Sunday. The starting quarterback sitting out would have also probably brought star wide receiver Justin Jefferson to the sidelines, and maybe some other contributors would have followed.
What likely wouldn’t have been the key focus was the offensive line. Despite Garrett Bradbury having been sidelines for weeks with a back injury, aggravated further by a car accident, the backups may not have given Nick Mullens much of a chance. Instead, everyone available started up front, and the level of disaster has now reached a nuclear threshold.
A season ago it would have been welcomed to see anyone but Bradbury up front. Austin Schlottmann has left plenty to be desired behind him, but has looked competent at times. However, he went down early in Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers and all hell broke loose.
Veteran guard Chris Reed subbed in at center down by the one-yard-line, and he took his first snap in the NFL at the position. He was blown up on a Dalvin Cook goal line rush, and then quickly seemed in over his head at center. Following a bad snap that Cousins saved him on, Reed sat in his haunches doing nothing to snap the ball while Cousins was ready to smack it out of him.
Things got worse from there. Schlottmann was carted to the locker room and quickly ruled out for the game, then was followed by star right tackle Brian O’Neill. O’Neill was also ruled out for the game with quickness and Minnesota’s line was decimated to the point of a second stringer, third stringer, and only one remaining backup available on the bench.
Sclottmann has been diagnosed with a fractured fibula, likely ending his season. Meanwhile, O’Neill has a calf injury and is set to undergo an MRI to evaluate the severity of his injury.
This would be a catastrophic issue for Kevin O’Connell heading into the playoffs if health isn’t restored in short order. Bradbury is nowhere near as talented as O’Neill, but has developed significantly this season and his replacement is clearly an issue. O’Neill isn’t going to be fixed by simply plugging in Oli Udoh, and the depth within the organization as a whole isn’t something that will be fixed in a matter of weeks.
For years the Minnesota Vikings offensive line has been problematic, and while they have been a better unit as a whole this season, that has still led to career high hit and sack totals for Cousins. Now removing the best options they have, and playing in the biggest game of the season, a playoff run may be over before it even gets started.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.