One Viking Trends in the Wrong Direction for Week 3
The Minnesota Vikings’ injury report is massive just two weeks into the season, so much so that fans are being forced to reevaluate expectations for the team in 2025.
The Vikings’ first injury report hit this week, and predictably, one player did not practice, setting the stage for his absence in Week 3.
And with Week 3 just a few days away, a game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota will likely be without starting center Ryan Kelly.
Ryan Kelly Gets the DNP Treatment to Start the Week
Kelly is concussed and probably won’t play on Sunday.
Center Ryan Kelly Doesn’t Practice on Wednesday
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert tweeted, “No surprise, but neither C Ryan Kelly nor LT Justin Skule were on the Vikings’ practice field today during the media viewing portion.. Both are in concussion protocol. J.J. McCarthy, who coach Kevin O’Connell said is wearing a boot on his right ankle, was not there, either.”
The silver lining? Most didn’t expect Kelly to practice in the first place, so the news from Wednesday was basically a confirmation.
Full Concussion Recovery Time Is 9 Days on Average
Andrew Van Ginkel and Jeff Okudah suffered concussions in Week 1 and did not play six days later in the loss to Atlanta. The average time from game to game for a player to return from a concussion is nine days, so if Kelly follows that path, he’s looking at a return in Week 4 when Minnesota will face Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers in Ireland.
The Vikings aren’t known for rushing injury recoveries — they’re actually known for the opposite — and especially won’t press the gas pedal on a concussion.
The Michael Jurgens Show on Deck
If Kelly can’t go — he probably won’t — Michael Jurgens will make his first-ever start against Cincinnati. In 24 snaps last weekend, Jurgens delivered a 57.0 Pro Football Focus grade, with a 45.2 pass-blocking mark and 71.0 score via pass protection. For a night, the man was basically Garrett Bradbury reincarnated.
Minnesota found Jurgens in Round 7 of the 2024 NFL Draft, and Sunday afternoon will be his first real chance to strut his stuff as a starter or otherwise.
Jurgens played 12 snaps as a rookie in 2024 — all on special teams.
C-QB Went from Kelly-McCarthy to Jurgens-Wentz
Want to know how upside down the Vikings’ season had flipped?
Three days ago, Minnesota waltzed into its regular season home opener with its sweet and fancy new quarterback + center combo of J.J. McCarthy and Ryan Kelly.
Now, the club will feature Carson Wentz and Michael Jurgens under center. The season, at least for a while, has quickly devolved into a festival of attrition, a wild circumstance because the regular season is just 11 days old.
The Athletic on Kelly, Vikings OL
Alec Lewis of The Athletic mentioned Kelly and Minnesota’s trenches this week: “The Vikings have not yet had the five offensive linemen they expected to play together. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw is still working his way back from a torn ACL and MCL, which he suffered last October.”
“Even when he returns, it’s fair to wonder whether the Vikings will have Kelly, who exited Sunday’s game with his fourth documented concussion. The lack of continuity matters, but it’s also not a major shock. Offensive linemen tend to get hurt by virtue of the positions they play.”
Pro Football Focus claims the Vikings’ pass-protection ranks No. 13 in the NFL through two games, with the run-blocking checking in as fourth-best.
Lewis added. “In Kelly’s case, the odds were probably higher given his recent history. Last year alone, the 32-year-old missed seven games with a neck injury, a calf injury and a knee injury that required surgery. On a different note, expecting Fries to immediately return to his peak level would be bold. He fractured his right tibia last year. His inability to participate fully throughout the spring mattered.”
“It’s possible that the Vikings would be able to supply blocking help to the interior or even right tackle Brian O’Neill if they weren’t as terrified of their situation at left tackle. But they are — rightfully. Backup Justin Skule, who was also in the concussion protocol as of Monday afternoon, has already allowed three sacks.”
Week 4 in Ireland is probably a more reasonable spot to target for Kelly’s return.
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