Vikings to Roll Out Wild OL Plan
Piecemeal. That’s a word to remember for the Minnesota Vikings’ offensive line this weekend and for the foreseeable future, as the club wades through a plethora of injuries. And the current infirmary report is so vast that guard Blake Brandel may play center.
With two days before the Minnesota Vikings take on the Cleveland Browns, a strange offensive line plan appears realistic for Kevin O’Connell’s team.
Minnesota drafted Brandel as a tackle half a decade ago, moved him to guard in 2024, and now the son of a gun might start at center against the Cleveland Browns.
Vikings’ OL Plan Might Plop Blake Brandel at Center
Desperate times are here for Minnesota’s once-promising trenches.
No Ryan Kelly in London
In Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons, four-time Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly suffered a concussion. He healed within two weeks, and in Week 4, Kelly suffered another concussion in Ireland. Two brain injuries in three games.
Vikings.com‘s Lindsey Young wrote this week, “It’s possible Carson Wentz will be taking snaps from his third center in as many weeks this Sunday.”
“The Vikings, prepping to play Cleveland at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, held their first practice of the week Wednesday in the English countryside and were without starting center Ryan Kelly and backup Michael Jurgens. Kelly is currently in concussion protocol, and Jurgens is dealing with a hamstring injury.”
Kelly certainly won’t play this weekend, which brings the conversation to Jurgens.
Michael Jurgens, the Backup Center … Out Too
But wait. There’s more.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert tweeted Thursday, “Another picturesque Vikings practice underway outside London. No Michael Jurgens or Christian Darrisaw for the second consecutive day, but Darrisaw’s absence was planned and he is expected to play Sunday. J.J. McCarthy made a few throws on the side.”
Jurgens is the next in line after Kelly and played in Week 4 in Dublin. The youngster struggled against the Steelers, banking a 46.4 Pro Football Focus grade on 34 snaps.
He didn’t practice on Wednesday or Thursday, and if he did miraculously heal by Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, he would’ve stared at Mason Graham and Maliek Collins all morning on Sunday. Collins is currently ranked as the best defensive tackle in football, one rung ahead of Minnesota DT Jalen Redmond on Pro Football Focus’s ladder.
Minnesota formally ruled Jurgens out Friday morning. He won’t play.
Blake Brandel at … Center?
We said there is more — and here it comes.
Seifert later tweeted Thursday, “If Michael Jurgens can’t play, the next center option is Blake Brandel. I recall him taking some practice snaps there over the years but not sure he’s ever played center in a game. Rookie UDFA Joe Huber played a handful of snaps at center in college, and also in the Shrine game.”
“Blake Brandel confirmed that while he has had a lot of practice reps at center over the past few years, he has never played center in a game.”
Brandel on the impending plan to play center: “It’s just one of those things where I knew there at some point could be a possibility, and we’re here. So I’m excited.”
Brandel at center would set Minnesota up for this offensive line against the Browns:
—— Christian Darrisaw (LT)
—— Joe Huber (LG)
—— Blake Brandel (C)
—— Will Fries (RG)
—— Justin Skule (RT)
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The Other Alternatives
The Vikings are too deep into the week to explore a free-agent center like Nick Harris or Cody Whitehair. So, the only real alternative would be practice squad center Vershon Lee.
Vikings.com‘s Rob Kleifield on Lee a couple of months ago: “Lee started 40 games in college (18 at center, 16 at left guard and six at right tackle) and appeared in 51 contests overall. He participated in a tryout with the Vikings on Thursday after going unselected in the 2025 NFL Draft and was hosted by Minnesota during a Top 30 visit.”
“In 2024, Lee started all 13 games at center for South Carolina and was tabbed a Rex Enright permanent team captain after the season. He also was named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll and was a co-recipient of the program’s Community Service Award. Lee earned solid run-blocking grades from Pro Football Focus in 2024 (71.4) and 2023 (72.0). At the Gamecocks Pro Day in March, he measured in a smidge taller than 6-foot-3 and weighed 304 pounds; Lee lifted 28 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press and ran the 40-yard dash in 5.12 seconds.”
In fact, with Kelly and Jurgens ruled out by Sunday, it’s a safe bet that Minnesota will elevate Lee early that morning.
Cleveland is a 3.5-point underdog — even with Minnesota’s OL tribulations — in London.
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