When Will Dalton Risner Take Over?
The Minnesota Vikings recently opened the practice window for offensive guard Dalton Risner. He was a fan favorite last season and provided a substantial upgrade on the offensive line. Ed Ingram has been brutal to start the season again, and Risner can’t take over his spot soon enough.
When Will Dalton Risner Take Over?
This offseason, it took some time for the Vikings to agree to Risner’s contract. He was a free agent, and they clearly didn’t prioritize his re-signing. Blake Brandel was moving inside to the left guard spot, which meant Risner’s only opportunity would be to take Ed Ingram’s right guard position.
Over the past couple of offseasons, Risner has sought to be paid as a starting guard. That hasn’t materialized, and Minnesota wasn’t going to give him the position either. Now, five games into the season, he’s back healthy and ready to go. It will take some time for him to get up to game speed, but the role is his for the taking.
Ingram’s weekly performance has been deplorable. He has given up pressures in droves, and Sam Darnold has had to operate despite a lackluster showing from his right guard. Right tackle Brian O’Neill has talked of Ingram’s communication, but that continuity shouldn’t be enough to usurp a better player.
Risner has struggled with run blocking and will need to put a better foot forward. At his core, though, he’s a strong right guard who is exceptional when his quarterback needs time to throw. Darnold has had a season of resurgence, and bettering the group in front of him can only further advance that reality.
It remains unlikely that Risner will step in and start for the Vikings against Detroit this week. He may also be inactive and need more time to get going.
That said, there’s no reason to continue the charade of running Ingram out there as the season goes on. It’s been an unfortunate lack of development for the young lineman, but it’s time to cut that cord.
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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 daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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