The Can’t Miss Storylines for Vikings at Browns
The Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns are guaranteed to play each other every four years, and the purple team hopes to avenge a loss from the last time the two clubs met in 2021. These are the main storylines for the event.
It’s go-time for the Minnesota Vikings in London against the Cleveland Browns, hoping to avoid a 2-3 start with the tough part of the schedule ahead.
Kevin O’Connell’s team is biding its time until J.J. McCarthy’s return — probably after the bye in Week 6 — and in the meantime, a Browns team with a mean defense awaits.
Here’s what to follow for Week 5.
4 Storylines for Browns-Vikings
These are the items at the top of the billboard.
1. The Cam Robinson Angle
Before the 2024 trade deadline, the Vikings pressed the button on a trade for tackle Cam Robinson from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Robinson filled in decently for Christian Darrisaw, who was lost to a torn ACL. Then, the 2025 offseason rolled around, and Robinson used free agency to sign with the Houston Texans, inking a deal for one year and $12 million.
That contract meant nothing because Houston decided to start University of Minnesota rookie tackle Aireontae Ersery instead of Robinson. Buried on the depth chart due to Ersery, Houston traded Robinson to Cleveland this week.
Now, two things are in play:
1) Robinson faces his old team in London.
2) Minnesota can begin dreaming about getting a compensatory draft pick from Robinson’s performance.
No comp pick was in play in Houston while Robinson rotted on the bench. The Vikings now have a 4th-Round ceiling in compensatory draft-speak with Robinson in the mix to start in Cleveland.
USA Today‘s Nick Brinkerhoff on the Robinson trade: “Cam Robinson is normally moving defenders. Today, he’s moving himself to a new city. The Houston Texans agreed to a trade for the tackle on Monday, sending Robinson to the Cleveland Browns, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.”
“It ends what turned out to be a quick stop in the “Lone Star State” for the offensive lineman. Robinson initially inked a one-year, $12 million deal with the Texans back in March after the team traded Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders. Robinson was supposed to be the team’s left tackle in 2025, but Houston was encouraged by the development of rookie, Aireontae Ersery.”
Most pundits commonly agree that Houston has one of the worst offensive lines in football, so to get rid of Robinson is a bit odd.
Brinkerhood added, “The second-round pick out of Minnesota has been protecting C.J. Stroud’s blindside in 2025. Despite offensive line concerns, Robinson was inactive for the Texans’ Week 4 win over the Tennessee Titans. Now he’ll head to the Browns, who were in need of a starter at left tackle after losing Dawand Jones to a season-ending injury.”
2. Battle of Offensive-Minded ‘Kevins’ with Ties to the Vikings
Kevin Stefanski worked for the Vikings from 2006 to 2019 — a whopping 14 seasons before taking the head coaching job in Cleveland. Many wanted Minnesota to fire Mike Zimmer a half-decade ago and to promote Stefanski in his place.
Minnesota later fired Zimmer but replaced him with a different Kevin: Kevin O’Connell.
The two offensive-minded Kevins, formerly of offensive coordinator fame, square off in London.
3. Dillon Gabriel’s First-Ever Start
The Browns drafted Gabriel in Round 3 last April, a plan to perhaps right the wrongs of Deshaun Watson’s heinous contract. The team also picked Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders the following day.
And with Joe Flacco now on the bench after poor play through four games, the Gabriel Era will start in Cleveland. The Oregon Duck drew Brian Flores for his very first NFL assignment. Brutal.
Minnesota has won 11 consecutive games against rookie quarterbacks. The last guy to score a win? Josh Allen and his Bills in 2018.
4. The Injury Parade for Minnesota
The Vikings will be without these players on Sunday due to injury:
— Blake Cashman (LB)
— Donovan Jackson (LG)
— Aaron Jones (RB)
— Ryan Kelly (C)
— J.J. McCarthy (QB)
— Brian O’Neill (RT)
— Andrew Van Ginkel (OLB)
That’s a wicked number of starters to play without in a given week, especially on the offensive line. A main storyline will be Minnesota’s ability to mitigate the injuries on the fly. A couple of nights ago, the San Francisco 49ers were beset by a similar injury report and found a way to defeat the rival Los Angeles Rams.
We shall see if the Vikings follow suit.
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