One Viking Could Be Benched Soon
After a 5-0 start to the 2024 regular season, few items warrant criticism for the Minnesota Vikings.
One Viking Could Be Benched Soon
Through five games, the Vikings showcase the NFL’s top-ranked defense per EPA/Play and 14th-ranked offense, a relatively balanced operation, particularly in the first 3.5 games.
And although wins are flooding into box scores, the team can still improve en route to a postseason push, which could include a bench assignment for right guard Ed Ingram.
Minnesota spent a 2nd-Round pick on Ingram during the now-infamous 2022 NFL Draft, and entering Year No. 3 this season, many hoped Ingram would take the next step as long-term starting right guard. On the whole, Minnesota’s offensive line has not struggled, but Ingram’s so-far performance in 2024 lags behind his teammates and league peers.
Here’s Ingram’s Pro Football Focus body of work through five games:
- at Giants = 51.9
- vs. 49ers = 51.9
- vs. Texans = 66.6
- at Packers = 69.5
- vs. Jets = 36.0
And the pass-blocking:
- at Giants = 9.3
- vs. 49ers = 50.3
- vs. Texans = 39.1
- at Packers = 68.3
- vs. Jets = 19.8
Finally, the run-blocking:
- at Giants = 63.9
- vs. 49ers = 51.6
- vs. Texans = 71.6
- at Packers = 66.7
- vs. Jets = 51.1
Ingram’s PFF scorecard tells the tale of several Vikings offensive linemen from the last half-decade or so: pretty damn effective via run-blocking and poor at pass protection. For unknown reasons, this happens frequently to the purple team.
So, if Ingram were benched — then what? Well, the solution is quite straightforward, and his name is Dalton Risner.
Minnesota re-signed Risner in May after roughly three months of fans asking, “Will they or won’t they?” regarding his free-agent status. Risner was tentatively on deck to compete for the RG job against Ingram in the summer but then hurt his back at training camp. He’s been shelved since.
Unlike Ingram, Risner’s modus operandi is the inverse. He’s not overly effective at powering open running lanes, but his pass protection is borderline Pro Bowl-ish. Thanks to Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, a bit of an update dribbled out last week — O’Connell will clarify Risner’s return after the bye, which follows Sunday’s game in London. His practice window was not opened last week.
“More than likely, we’re going to hold off on Dalton. I’ll circle back with you guys after the bye,” O’Connell told reporters six days ago.
Risner has built a career playing left guard, so a slide to the right side will involve a trial by fire. If Ingram’s struggles persist, though, the Vikings coaching staff would probably grant Risner the audition.
Minnesota is in a territory at 5-0 where the most optimal possible lineup is required. If it wants to win a Super Bowl, it can’t dink around and hope for the best on a third-year starter who will eventually figure it out.
These aren’t the 7-10 Vikings forecasted all spring and summer.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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