The Power of a New Viking Is Already Turning Heads
The Minnesota Vikings have made sure to add power to the mix in this year’s offseason. Both the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams played bully-ball with the Vikings late last season, resulting in a heartbreaking end to a potentially special season. To avoid that, the trenches will look different in 2025.
New Vikings’ Strength is “Almost Hard to Believe”
Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen bring the oomph to a defensive line that desperately needed some reinforcements. Suddenly, Brian Flores can adjust his scheme and doesn’t have to rely on blitzes too much.
On offense, the interior needed an overhaul, and the purple franchise invested big-time this offseason to fix the long-term issue. In the first round of the draft, left guard Donovan Jackson was acquired and he joined a crew that had already gotten two pricey additions in free agency when center Ryan Kelly and right guard Will Fries joined.
The former Colts should be immediate upgrades. Fries, however, is still recovering from his fractured tibia suffered early last season. He’s not expected to miss any time in the regular season, but has not yet seen the practice field due to his recovery.
Kevin O’Connell gave an update on Wednesday, suggesting that he should be back soon. At the very latest, he will be back in training camp. His work in the weight room has turned some heads, according to the head coach.
“It’s almost hard to believe with how strong he is, some of the things you’re hearing about from what he’s doing in the weight room, but we’re being really smart with the injury that it was, and then once we’re able to kind of get him in and get a feel for that, you know, knowing how we handle the spring.”
“I don’t know if we’ll see him fully active this spring, but I have no hesitation to say that I’m really excited to see him when he’s able to get out there, more than likely, training champ. There’s still a chance we could see him in some bits and pieces of work over the next two weeks. But he’s in a good spot.”
It’s a little strange for the Vikings to work with an offensive line that’s missing a pair of starters. Christian Darrisaw, who sustained a season-ending knee injury in last season’s first clash against the Rams, is a little further away from his return than Fries. Considering the big investment the organization made a year ago when they signed him to a contract extension, it’s fair to assume a cautious approach with his return. He might not be ready for Week 1.
Those absences helped one guy, and that’s rookie Jackson. Because the right guard spot was vacant, the Vikings had the chance to insert him into the first-team unit without taking Blake Brandel out. O’Connell told the media that the veteran was used as left and right guard on Wednesday. Usually, teams tend to keep the experienced players in place until training camp, but Jackson got some early work next to center Kelly.
Back to Fries, it’s easy to believe the man possesses superhuman strength when watching some of his game tape. Unlike many guards in recent Vikings history, he has the power to move opponents, which will help passer J.J. McCarthy stand in the pocket, as well as the running game.
After spending his rookie season as a backup in Indianapolis, the 2021 seventh-rounder cracked the lineup in 2022. He was solid for a couple of years, but had his breakout a year ago. Fries played at a Pro Bowl level through five weeks until his leg injury cut his campaign short.
PFF’s Dalton Wasserman wrote last week: “Will Fries was on his way to a breakout season before suffering a season-ending injury in the Colts’ fifth game. During the time that he did get to play, he recorded a terrific 86.9 PFF grade that would’ve been a top-five mark at the position if he had played enough snaps to qualify.”
Fries has played in 41 career games. The Vikings hope to get the 27-year-old back on the field sooner rather than later, but there’s no need to accelerate the timeline. Once they are all healthy, the Vikings should have the best offensive line in over a decade.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.
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