Somehow, Someway, Someday: Vikings’ Grand Plan Gets Put on Ice for a Little While Longer
The Vikings’ grand plan along the offensive line hasn’t yet come to fruition. So far, injuries have undermined the possibility.
Kevin O’Connell delivered the very discouraging news on Monday, explaining that Minnesota’s 1st-Round guard would need some time off to heal his wrist. The details, per O’Connell, are that Donovan Jackson will work toward being on the field for Week 7: “He suffered a wrist injury against Atlanta that was deemed to be something that would require surgery. He did have that this morning in Los Angeles.”
The Vikings’ Grand Plan for O-Line Still Out of Reach
Start off with some clarity: if the injury arrived in Week 2, what’s with the lineman being in the game for Week 3?
Well, the explanation is that surgery was needed but the injury wasn’t going to get worse by playing. The decision was to send the young fella for his surgery — one called successful by O’Connell — even if he was capable of offering some short-term help in Week 3. The upside is that the LG1 isn’t going to need to go to the IR, meaning there’s a strong belief in his capacity to get back onto the field for Week 7.
Next up are a pair of football games prior to the bye. The Week 4 Steelers game takes place in Ireland; the Week 5 Browns game will take place in England. Donovan Jackson won’t be out there for either battle. Week 6 is off for the whole team since it’s the bye.
When Jackson will be available, however, is in Week 7; Minnesota hosts Philadelphia. Slowing down Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter, and the rest of the Eagles’ front seven will be a tall task, so health for that bout will be very important.
Since the beginning, Kevin O’Connell has been hyping his new lineman. The spring offered a certain idea: “Envisioning [Donovan Jackson] being on a front with potentially Ryan Kelly and Christian Darrisaw, Will Fries and Brian O’Neill. That’s a pretty formidable group on paper. We’ve got to make it come to life on the grass.”
Note that O’Connell offered these words without Donovan Jackson offering any evidence of NFL competence beyond a promising college career and the early moments of getting acclimated to work inside of TCO Performance Center. Already, the Vikings’ head coach was allowing his mind to drift into what the o-line could become.
In Week 3, Christian Darrisaw got back onto the field, leading to Trey Hendrickson getting stonewalled. Re-welcoming the stud LT1 is a major boost, one that makes (without exaggerating) the offense as a whole to have an easier time.
Next up will be the status of Ryan Kelly, someone who is trending in a positive direction. In fact, O’Connell was quite optimistic about his top center during the same presser. If Kelly can go, then that means the Vikings will have four of their starting five out there in Week 4.
The pessimists in the crowd may nevertheless point to a stubborn point: the Vikings’ grand plan has yet to congeal into reality. At what point does the team get to march out Christian Darrisaw, Donovan Jackson, Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, and Brian O’Neill? Best guess at this stage is Week 7, at the earliest.
Blake Brandel is going to be the Vikings’ LG1 for the upcoming games overseas. The versatile veteran held down that job last season, so he’s well-equipped to jump in yet again. And while he may not bring back memories of Steve Hutchinson, Brandel will offer tough, competitive play.
Donovan Jackson, 22, is listed at 6’4″ and 315 pounds. He’s carrying a $3,123,101 cap charge within the first year of his four-year contract (that carries a fifth-year team option).
Next up for the Vikings is a game against the Steelers. Pulling off the win would mean being a 3-1 football team despite the o-line turmoil.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
