Donovan Jackson’s Rookie Midseason Review
In the 2025 NFL draft, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adogo-Mensah selected Donovan Jackson with the 24th overall pick. A guard isn’t seen as a premium position to target in the first round, but it was a glaring need for Minnesota. Having played just over half of this season’s games, it’s a good time to take a look at how the rookie is doing.
VikingsTerritory reviews the first half of Donovan Jackson’s rookie season in Minnesota, through injury, growing pains, and a solid start.
The guard out of Ohio State — where he was a national champion in 2024 — never seemed in any doubt that he was taking the starting left guard position straight away – a good start. He impressed through training camp and the preseason and was ready to go in Week 1 against Chicago.
Assessing Donovan Jackson’s First Half of Rookie Season
Jackson impressed on his debut against the Bears at Soldier Field, and everything looked rosy. However, in the Week 2 game against Atlanta, he suffered a wrist injury. Despite finishing that game and playing again in Week 3 against Cincinnati, it was decided that surgery was the best course of action.
Jackson missed the two international games against the Steelers and Browns before returning after the bye week and appearing in the last four games. Through seven games of his rookie season, Jackson has allowed 2 sacks, 17 pressures, and been flagged for 3 penalties.
Pro Football Focus gives him an overall grade of 59.1, with his strength in pass protection (65.1) and his run blocking (57.7) needing work — plenty of room to improve, but a solid start for a rookie.
Kevin O’Connell asks a lot of his OL because of his inclination toward long-developing pass plays. It asks a lot of the guys in pass protection, which is why someone like Ed Ingram, who struggled so badly in Minnesota, is now thriving in Houston.
For example, Jackson has allowed the highest pressure rate among rookie guards, though his 3.09-second time to pressure (14th-longest among left guards, min. 100 pass blocking snaps) provides some context. Minnesota’s offensive scheme is a difficult place for a rookie to learn, and there have been some growing pains, but the potential is there for Jackson to be a long-term player on the Vikings’ offensive line.
The Whole Vikings OL Needs to Find Consistency
The stop-start nature of the beginning of his rookie season wasn’t ideal, especially with an injury that seriously hinders offensive line play. However, he will now hope for a consistent run of games to build a consistent level of play. It’s not just Jackson where Minnesota needs to find consistency, though; the whole OL has been riddled with injuries and inconsistent performance.
So far, the Vikings have featured 12 different OL combinations that have played together for 10 or more snaps. Amazingly, after the big free agent signings of Will Fries and Ryan Kelly, to go along with drafting Jackson in the first round. Those three have never played together along with Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill to give the Vikings what should be the team’s strongest unit.
Minnesota has started its most-used combination of Darrisaw-Jackson-Brandel-Fries-O’Neill in three of its last four games. At least some consistency in personnel is beginning to form. Kelly has been designated to return from the Injured Reserve after a pair of concussions. It remains to be seen when he will be ready to play, but that is positive news for the team, and having an experienced center like Kelly next to him should be a positive for Jackson.
Recognition for Jackson in Week 10
There wasn’t a huge amount of positivity for the Vikings to draw from after their defeat to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 10. The performance of their rookie guard was one instance, with PFF giving recognition for Jackson’s efforts in the form of a spot on the rookie team of the week.
Here is what PFF had to say about Jackson’s inclusion;
While Jackson did allow a career-high five pressures against the Ravens, it also came on 52 pass-blocking snaps — only the second time where he’s ever had a game with more than 40. In all, pass protection has been Jackson’s strength this season, as he carries a 65.1 mark that’s dragged down by one bad game against the Falcons all the way back in Week 2.
The Vikings man was joined in the team of the week by second-round pick, Tate Ratledge (Detroit Lions), and first-round pick, Grey Zabel (Seattle Seahawks). Jackson’s overall grade from the game was a solid 64.3. With the wrist injury now fully behind him, that performance set the bar for where the rookie needs to be at a minimum while continuing to improve the experience he gains out on the field.
This Sunday, Jackson faces the opponent where it all began, and he had such an impressive debut as the Chicago Bears visit US Bank Stadium.
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