Vikings Rattled by Injury to 4-Time Pro Bowler
The Minnesota Vikings’ troubles show no signs of letting up, as the team is battling an awful 4-8 record, with another injury to center Ryan Kelly bubbling to the surface in Week 13.
The Vikings are shaken by an injury to their four-time Pro Bowl standout, raising major concerns about stability for the season’s remainder.
Kelly recently returned from a battle with two concussions this season, and now a hip ailment threatens his availability for the remaining five games.
Vikings Center Ryan Kelly Injures Hip at Seattle
It would be tricky to write a nastier script for the Vikings if a fiction writer gave it a whirl.
Kelly Hurt in Week 13
After returning to Minnesota’s starting lineup on November 23rd — so like a week ago — Kelly was injured again at Lumen Field.
NBC Sports‘ Myles Simmons wrote, “The injury situation for the Vikings is getting worse. Center Ryan Kelly has been ruled out of Sunday’s matchup with the Seahawks with a hip injury. Michael Jurgens has come in to replace him.”
“Kelly has already missed substantial time this season due to concussions. The Vikings also started the day without left tackle Christian Darrisaw and guard Donovan Jackson, who were inactive due to injury.”
Hip injuries are rarely “nothing,” so Kelly’s status will likely involve a wait-and-see approach through Week 14 and beyond.
Michael Jurgens Shines in Relief
Somehow — some way — backup center Michael Jurgens entered the contest after Kelly’s injury and balled out. No one saw it coming.
Jurgens posted an 87.0 grade from Pro Football Focus, leaps and bounds more impressive than his previous showings. In fact, when Jurgens took the field earlier in the season in relief of Kelly, he posted PFF marks in the 40s and 50s, which is terrible.
The Vikings don’t have many silver linings in 2025, but for a day, Jurgens represented an unforeseen version.
More Patchwork Offensive Line
One week ago, Minnesota strutted into a contest at Lambeau Field with a healthy starting offensive line for the first time in 2025. The gang looked like this:
- Christian Darrisaw (LT)
- Donovan Jackson (LG)
- Ryan Kelly (C)
- Will Fries (RG)
- Brian O’Neill (RT)
One week later, the Vikings embarked on Seattle without Darrisaw and Jackson, who are battling another round of injuries. And with Kelly out, Minnesota could field this offensive line in Week 14 at home against the Washington Commanders:
- Justin Skule (LT)
- Blake Brandel (LG)
- Michael Jurgens (C)
- Will Fries (RG)
- Brian O’Neill (RT)
It’s a theme of the season: an offensive line that felt incredibly promising in the summer but just hasn’t panned out, mostly due to injuries that have spread across multiple weeks.
Universe Nudging Kelly to Retirement
Kelly sustained the aforementioned concussions in September, and some wondered if he would return at all. After several weeks, the four-time Pro Bowler opted to come back in 2025, wearing a Guardian helmet for added protection against brain injury.
That plan has worked for a couple of weeks. Now, Kelly’s hip is bad.
Kelly will turn 33 during the 2026 offseason. It feels like the football gods are telling him to hang it up.
Kyle Joudry on the Long-Term Plan at Center
Our Kyle Joudry wrote about the future of center spot on Sunday, “Even more encouraging for the Vikings is that Michael Jurgens will still be around. He was the initial fill-in for Kelly while the starter was recovering from a concussion. He struggles in there, too easily ceding ground to powerful defensive tackles.”
“Keep in mind, though, that he’s a late-round center who is working in his sophomore season. No guarantee, but he could yet improve. The Vikings could do worse at backup center. Can Ryan Kelly prove to be so valuable that he’ll justify keeping around? If so, then an extension or pay cut could come into play, but both avenues have issues.”
Kelly’s contract goes through the end of 2026, for what it’s worth.
Joudry added, “Extending an older player with injury concerns carries risk; players seldom want to accept a pay cut. Neither option is a slam dunk. Working against Kelly is that he’s 32. Working against him is that he battled concussions in 2025, suffering a pair that kept him sidelined for all of the season apart from four games.”
“If he continues being healthy, Kelly will offer a maximum of ten games in 2025. Keep an eye on the man who is snapping the ball in the coming weeks. He’s an excellent player, but it remains to be seen if he’ll maintain his employment in the Twin Cities.”
Blake Brandel also filled in admirably for Kelly at center during the concussion absence and has played for Minnesota since 2020.
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