Brian O’Neill Injury Scare Turns into Bullet Dodged
The Pittsburgh Steelers narrowly defeated the Minnesota Vikings last weekend, and part of the carnage for the purple team involved an injury to right tackle Brian O’Neill. Most fans feared the worst for the longtime Viking, but thanks to an update on Monday, Minnesota dodged a bullet, generally speaking.
Minnesota Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill is battling an MCL injury, and thankfully, the team dodged an almighty bullet this week before Week 5.
O’Neill will miss games, but his season likely isn’t over, which fans feared for most of the day on Monday.
Minnesota Vikings RT Brian O’Neill Did Not Tear His MCL
A bit of relief in the way of injury news.
It’s an MCL Sprain for Brian O’Neill
NFL Network‘s Ian Rapoport tweeted just before the start of Monday Night Football, “The MRI has confirmed that Vikings RT Brian O’Neill sprained his MCL on Sunday, taking him off the field. He’s week-to-week, but no surgery is required. Coach Kevin O’Connell had indicated this was the case.”
A tear would’ve tossed O’Neill on the shelf for the rest of 2025; a sprain indicates games missed — not a season lost.
A Collective Sigh of Relief
In a year rocked by injuries — the regular season isn’t even a month old — fans just expected the worst for O’Neill. This website, too, even just assumed that O’Neill would probably hit injured reserve with a torn MCL. Somehow, though, Minnesota caught a break — finally — and O’Neill’s recovery should be limited time on the shelf.
Let’s be clear, though: a sprained MCL doesn’t mean that O’Neill will be ready for Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. His recovery will morph into a bye week storyline, along with many other players.
Now What for O’Neill?
The next step for O’Neill, which has probably been determined behind the scenes, is to assess the severity of the MCL sprain. A mild sprain would put the veteran tackle back in the lineup after the bye in Week 7 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
A moderate sprain — perhaps the most common — typically involves a recovery process of two to six weeks. And then the new worst-case scenario is a severe sprain, also known as four weeks to three months.
The team should start to provide hints on the severity, and that’s the pivotal next step regarding O’Neill’s return to the field.
Justin Skule Scenes in the Meantime
Life without O’Neill? Well, Minnesota has a plan for that, a man named Justin Skule, signed by Minnesota back in March after David Quessenberry left town. Skule actually filled in for Christian Darrisaw early this season before suffering a concussion, and his performance left much to be desired.
However, in Ireland, Skule appeared to turn the corner, logging a 66.7 grade from Pro Football Focus. That’s not elite by any stretch of the imagination, but consistent scoring in that ballpark would basically give the Vikings Cam Robinson-like protection and blocking on Sundays. It will work.
If something sidelines Skule — the possibility cannot be ruled out due to the litany of injuries — second-year tackle Walter Rouse would be the next man up.
Our Partner Site on O’Neill, Skule
Kyle Joudry at PurplePTSD noted on the O’Neill injury and Skule as a fill-in, “Being able to avoid surgery and a long-term absence is a positive development for Brian O’Neill. The possibility exists that he’ll get shuffled to the IR — opening a roster spot in the process — but that remains to be seen.”
“Doing so would clear out a roster spot while locking in a minimum absence of four weeks. Look for Justin Skule to continue working as the RT1. If that plan fails, then Walter Rouse looks like the next man up. The sophomore OT has youth and upside working in his favor, so we’ll see if that leads to him getting onto the field.”
The Vikings have the NFL’s worst sack-per-play percentage (on offense) through four weeks.
“Standing at 6’7″ and weighing 310 pounds, O’Neill is a high-level athlete who has been in the NFL since 2018. He’s currently working under a five-year agreement that sits at a total of $92.5 million in compensation. The numbers seemed pretty large when details of the deal first emerged but O’Neill has proven to be more than worth it,” Joudry added.
“An extension during the offseason to keep him in town for a while longer while (crucially) lowering his $23,203,892 cap hit in 2026 appears likely.”
Also note: the Browns, Minnesota’s opponent this weekend, have one of the NFL’s best defensive fronts. Skule and others, like center Michael Jurgens and guard Blake Brandel, will get trial by fire.
You must be logged in to post a comment.