Vikings Hopes Rely on New Offensive Line
Ted Schwerzler
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In the wake of multiple injuries, the Vikings hopes rely on new help along the offensive line. With Austin Schlottmann and Brian O’Neill both sent to injured reserve this week, Kevin O’Connell’s team has more questions than answers up front.
Coming into the year there needed to be a renewed focus on Minnesota’s offensive line. Kirk Cousins is being paid to be the franchise quarterback and keeping him upright is the only way in which playmakers such as Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook can be utilized. Now hit more than any other time in his career, the absolute last thing Cousins was hoping for is a bunch of backups to be protecting him.
Against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Minnesota lost both Austin Schlottman and Brian O’Neill early. Schlottmann suffered a fractured fibula while O’Neill underwent an MRI after being carted off for a calf injury. With starting center Garrett Bradbury out, backup Chris Reed struggled. Veteran Oli Udoh stepped in for O’Neill, but it’s hard to replace a Pro Bowl talent. Heading into the playoffs, the Vikings are now facing a line in complete flux.
The hope would be that Bradbury, who has been suffering from a back injury, would return soon. He was probably close in recent weeks, but then aggravated things in a minor car accident.
The Vikings, now down to Reed, who is very clearly not a center, signed 30-year-old free agent Greg Mancz. He started 16 games for the Houston Texans as a 24-year-old back in 2016, but he has bounced around since. Mancz had been with the Texans until 2021 when he signed with the Miami Dolphins. He did appear in a single game this season with the Buffalo Bills.
Needing to replace O’Neill, the Vikings turned to Super Bowl winning tackle Bobby Evans. Playing with the Los Angeles Rams last season, Evans drew a single start playing in nine games. He has four starts this season for the Rams, having played in 12 games, but found himself on the open market after playing just 42% of the snaps.
Reality for the Vikings is that Minnesota simply needs healthy bodies. Christian Darrisaw is an All-Pro talent on the left side, and Ezra Cleveland has been a consistent starter next to him. Ed Ingram has taken his lumps as a rookie, but certainly has worked to develop throughout the season. Although Bradbury was a complete trainwreck last year, he has turned things to the point of being an asset this year.
Minnesota almost certainly will give Bradbury another week to heal with their final game against the Chicago Bears not meaning anything. It would be beneficial for him to take some reps, but there is no benefit to putting him in harm’s way. He needs to hit the ground running in the playoffs, but the hope is that there would be little rust to knock off.
Replacing O’Neill is not going to be an easy task. Oli Udoh is not an ideal candidate, and neither is Evans. Either way, there’s going to be a downgrade, but to what extent Minnesota can gameplan and mask it remains to be seen. Kevin O’Connell will need to do everything he can in order to allow his offense an opportunity to perform.
Cousins has been pressured plenty this season, so that’s not something he isn’t used to. What the Vikings can’t have happen is the situation get markedly worse than it has already been. Injuries could be the biggest reason Minnesota loses the games that matter most.
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.