Injured Minnesota Viking Now Faces Grim Stakes
In Week 2, Minnesota Vikings center Ryan Kelly suffered a concussion in a loss to the Atlanta Falcons. He missed the following game, clearing the league’s concussion protocol for Week 4 — when he promptly endured another concussion.
Minnesota Vikings center Ryan Kelly received bad news on Sunday in Dublin, and his prognosis for the future seems totally up in the air.
Kelly now faces an unknown fate, and after 10 seasons in the NFL, he may want to consider what’s best for his long-term health.
Center for the Minnesota Vikings Concussed for 2nd Time in 3 Games
Kelly will miss time with the injury, and a broader context takes center stage.
Ryan Kelly Concussed — Again
CBS Sports provided the initial reporting: “Ryan Kelly is being evaluated for a possible concussion and is questionable to return to Sunday’s game against the Steelers. Kelly was able to clear the league’s concussion protocol to suit up Week 4, but he’s being evaluated by medical staff after taking a hit to the head in Sunday’s contest. Michael Jurgens will fill in at center for as long as Kelly is out of the game.”
Kelly never returned in Dublin, insinuating that the man suffered yet another head injury.
An Alarming Frequency
In his career, which began in 2016, Kelly has suffered five concussions total. Two have occurred in the last three games.
It feels unlikely that Kelly would enter the standard concussion protocol and return after the Week 6 bye. This feels more serious than that. The average time for an NFL player to return to the lineup is nine days after such injury, but two brain injuries in two weeks are a different beast.
He must prioritize his health above all else, and not his team’s offensive line efficiency.
Absence from the Lineup … or Retirement?
Before too long — if it’s not here already — the discussion around Kelly should or will morph into returning sometime this season or next — or flat-out retirement. Kelly has earned approximately $80 million during his NFL career, and if he wants to enjoy the fruits of his hard work and life, he must ask himself, “What now?” or what if he becomes concussed a third time later this season.
Kelly could also entertain wearing a Guardian helmet, a style the NFL has popularized over the last couple of seasons to promote safety.
In any event, Kelly’s choice is bigger than a game.
The Patchwork Plan at Center
On the football side, Minnesota would presumably lean into Michael Jurgens in Week 5 and beyond. He’s the backup center at the moment and has posted a poor 45.6 Pro Football Focus grade so far in 2025.
Minnesota drafted Jurgens in Round 7 last year, and while the team is wildly overdue to hit on a late-round offensive lineman, especially a center or guard, Kelly may not have the chops to be a top-tier center. If he does, he’s a slow developer. That is, of course, to be expected for a 7th-Round center.
Otherwise, Minnesota has rookie interior offensive lineman Joe Huber in its roster orbit. The team could explore Huber at center in time. Other centers, such as Jon Feliciano, Cody Whitehair, Nick Harris, and Sam Mustipher, are currently free agents.
Options will be available to general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, but none are even remotely close to Kelly’s prowess.
SI.com on Ryan Kelly
Will Ragatz opined on Kelly’s plight after Minnesota’s Week 4 loss: ‘Even if Kelly is able to return after the Vikings’ bye week, his history of concussions probably makes him a shaky bet to stay on the field moving forward. The veteran Kelly had three documented concussions during his career with the Colts, including two in 2023.”
“After nine seasons in Indianapolis, Kelly signed a two-year, $18 million contract (with $9.25 million guaranteed) with the Vikings this spring. Minnesota’s offensive line just cannot stay on the field so far this season. The five-man unit that the Vikings invested so heavily in this offseason has yet to play a single snap as a whole. The earliest that might happen would be in Week 7 against the Eagles, but that assumes each of Jackson, Kelly, and O’Neill are ready to go in three weeks’ time.”
Meanwhile, for curious minds, former Vikings center Garrett Bradbury has tabulated a 60.3 PFF mark in New England through four games.
“The Vikings are finishing out this game against the Steelers without those three starters. They’ve got Blake Brandel at left guard, Michael Jurgens at center, and Justin Skule at right tackle. On a related note, Carson Wentz has been [sacked] six times in three quarters,” Ragatz continued.
“The Vikings trailed the Steelers 21-6 at the time this story was published. With 60 percent of the offensive line banged up, the Vikings could be in trouble against the Browns next week in London, as well.”
More will be learned about Kelly’s status this week from the team and on the injury report.
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