Oli Udoh Out for the Rest of the 2023 Season
Josh Frey
|
With Christian Darrisaw out on Thursday night with an ankle injury, it was Oli Udoh who got the start at left tackle for the Vikings this week.
Udoh performed well at the position, but unfortunately, he had to be carted off the field with a leg injury during the second half.
On Friday evening, head coach Kevin O’Connell announced that Udoh will miss the remainder of the 2023 season because of a torn quadriceps.
Oli Udoh to Miss the Rest of the 2023 Season
Udoh was selected by the Vikings in the sixth-round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and he has appeared in 43 games over his NFL career in Minnesota, including 18 starts.
During the 2021 season, Udoh was a key part of Minnesota’s offensive line, starting 16 games for the Vikings. He primarily played at right guard during the year, but he also started at left tackle in Weeks 13 and 14.
Udoh switched back over to his natural tackle position in 2022 where he largely served as a reserve for the Vikings behind Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill. However, after both O’Neill and Blake Brandel went down with injuries, he started Week 18 and the Wild Card game versus the New York Giants.
Udoh re-upped with the Vikings this offseason, signing a one-year contract worth $2.582 million to remain in Minnesota.
With the left tackle now out for the rest of the season, hopefully Darrisaw’s ankle will improve considering the Vikings are in the midst of a 10-day break before their next game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
If Darrisaw is unable to go, it appears that David Quessenberry would be in line for the start since he replaced Udoh on Thursday.
Kickoff between the Chargers and Vikings is scheduled for 12 PM Central on Sunday, September 24th inside U.S. Bank Stadium.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.