Disaster: Vikings Down 7 Key Players in London
Less than a month into the 2025 regular season, the Minnesota Vikings’ grand plans of a Super Bowl-contending season are in peril. To make matters worse, the club will be without the services of seven crucial starters in London when it takes on the Cleveland Browns.
The Minnesota Vikings will be without seven key starters in London against the Cleveland Browns, forced to take on the Browns shorthanded.
Minnesota’s list of injuries is often too lengthy to remember or count on two hands, so here’s a recap for Week 5.
Injuries Continue to Be a Storyline for the 2025 Minnesota Vikings
It’s a skeleton crew in England for Kevin O’Connell.
1. Blake Cashman, LB
Cashman fell injured right away in 2025, suffering a hamstring injury in Week 1 during a win over the Chicago Bears. Hamstring ailments tend to linger, so Minnesota wasted no time tossing Cashman on injured reserve.
The Vikings’ best linebacker is eligible to return after this week, meaning a Week 7 reemergence against the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles is possible. Without Cashman, Minnesota has leaned into Eric Wilson as a starter, and he has not disappointed.
Estimated Return Date: Week 7 vs. Eagles
Replacement: Eric Wilson
2. Donovan Jackson, LG
Jackson had surgery on his wrist after Minnesota’s Week 3 beatdown of the Cincinnati Bengals. Fans had no idea anything was wrong with him, until boom — surgery news hit the light of day one week ago.
Through a couple of games of his rookie season, Jackson had performed admirably, so the team will anxiously await his return. Veteran guard Blake Brandel has reassumed his job from 2024 in the meantime and played quite well in Dublin.
Estimated Return Date: Week 7 vs. Eagles or Week 8 at Chargers
Replacement: Blake Brandel
3. Aaron Jones, RB
Like Cashman, Jones has a hamstring problem, and he is absolutely no stranger to that injury. Minnesota immediately placed Jones on IR, ruling him out until late October.
Thankfully, the club has Jordan Mason on the depth chart, who has already shown signs of taking over the RB1 job.
Estimated Return Date: Week 8 at Chargers
Replacement: Jordan Mason
4. Ryan Kelly, C
This one is probably the worst of them all.
Kelly suffered a concussion in Ireland, his second in three games and fifth on record in his career. The four-time Pro Bowler will now enter the NFL’s concussion protocol, which usually involves a week and a half on the sidelines, but this situation could be different.
There is no timetable for Kelly to return, as back-to-back brain injuries are no joke.
The Viking Age‘s Brad Berreman on Kelly and OL injuries: “Christian Darrisaw made his 2025 debut in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals, but center Ryan Kelly missed the game due to a concussion he suffered in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons.”
“During that game, rookie left guard Donovan Jackson suffered a wrist injury that is expected to sideline him for multiple games. Kelly cleared concussion protocol after missing the game against the Bengals. But now he’s right back in the protocol, with significant uncertainty to come.”
Yes, the Vikings’ offensive line injuries are a smorgasbord.
“He will almost surely miss Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns in London, then the Vikings have their bye in Week 6. From there, it’s impossible to know what Kelly’s outlook will be. And even if he can return in Week 7, he’s more susceptible to a(nother) head injury than he has ever been,” Berreman added.
“Head injuries are tricky, to put it mildly, and sometimes it’s too easy to get to the worst-case scenario when someone suffers two in close proximity to each other. But there has to be some real concern about Kelly right now, beyond how the Vikings are in line to be without him again.”
Estimated Return Date: Unknown
Replacement: Michael Jurgens
5. J.J. McCarthy, QB
After missing all of his rookie season with a torn meniscus, McCarthy suffered a high ankle sprain during a nauseating loss to the Atlanta Falcons. He played through the injury, but the next day, Minnesota announced the sprain and ruled McCarthy out for the next few games.
McCarthy will reportedly begin practicing in spots this week, putting him on track for a return after the Week 6 bye. The Vikings need McCarthy back in the lineup to continue his development. He can’t miss more games.
Estimated Return Date: Week 7 vs. Eagles or Week 8 at Chargers
Replacement: Carson Wentz
6. Brian O’Neill, RT
O’Neill sprained his MCL in Ireland, which turned out to be “good news” because, for about 24 hours, the world thought he had torn it. However, O’Neill dodged the bullet, and while he won’t play in London and perhaps soon after, the longtime Viking won’t be lost for all of 2025.
Yes, the Vikings’ offensive line is bruised, battered, and sprained.
Estimated Return Date: Unknown
Replacement: Justin Skule
7. Andrew Van Ginkel, OLB
First, a concussion sidelined Van Ginkel in Week 2. Then, he returned in Week 3 versus the Bengals and banked eight defensive snaps, accruing two sacks for his troubles, an incredible stat line.
Fast forward to Week 4, and Van Ginkel was ruled out with a neck injury. Kevin O’Connell said early this week that he won’t practice in London.
For Dallas Turner fans, now’s the time for the second-year EDGE to break out. There’s no better time.
Estimated Return Date: Week 7 vs. Eagles
Replacement: Dallas Turner
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