Oct 20, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; A detailed view of Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson's (18) helmet before the game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
The Ed Ingram era, at least as a starter, might have ended in Minneapolis for the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
Minnesota suffered its first loss of 2024, falling to the rival Detroit Lions in a thriller by the score of 31-29. Most fans left the game feeling optimistic about the future, as the showing was respectable, but that doesn’t mean one change is off the table.
According to Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling, Ingram could be benched soon in favor of Dalton Risner, a fan favorite, who has recently returned to full health from a summer back injury.
“Ed Ingram had another tough day today. Maybe … we’ll see what happens. Everybody keeps saying, ‘Why are you guys talking so much about Dalton Risner possibly being the starter’? That’s what we keep hearing, is that is something they are considering very seriously,” Goessling said on Access Vikings following the Lions win.
Risner played in 15 games for the Vikings last year, starting 11, so it won’t be too groundbreaking to see him in the starting lineup on Thursday Night Football or the week after that.
Goessling added, “So, again … I said it to somebody on Twitter this week. We generally, our approach at the Star Tribune, is not to just spout opinions, especially on this show. I think, when we say stuff, it’s generally something we’re hearing, and that we’re fairly confident they’re at least thinking about doing.”
Here’s Ingram’s Pro Football Focus body of work through six games via pass blocking:
Ingram fired up an overall PFF grade of 38.0 on Sunday — less than ideal.
And according to Risner, there’s no mystery about his injury recovery. The man is ready to go. He said last week that he’s itching to play and has been healed for a while. “I’m in football shape. I’ve been ready. This isn’t the first day I’ve been healthy. So, I’m ready to roll. Grateful to be out there practicing,” Risner told Star Tribune, just six days before his Vikings lost to the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The “isn’t the first day I’ve been healthy” remark was intriguing because one might ask what the Vikings were waiting for regarding his activation. Perhaps it was Ingram’s trajectory as a starter as the final straw.
Ingram probably had a leash of a game or two when Risner fully healed, and with a 38.0 PFF mark in the almighty trial — plus Goessing’s comments — don’t be shocked to see Risner regain his old job before you know it, though he’ll line up at right guard. He’s historically a left guard.
The Vikings are early three-point favorites to knock off the Rams on TNF.
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.