Vikings Deliver Ryan Kelly Update
After rumors that Ryan Kelly could be done for good due to multiple concussions, the four-time Pro Bowler appears to be on his way back to the Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings provided an update on center Ryan Kelly, offering new details on his recovery timeline and when he could return to practice.
Kelly sustained two concussions in three games earlier this season, casting his future in the NFL into doubt. Alas, Kelly is trending toward a return.
Vikings to Open Ryan Kelly’s Practice Window Soon
The concussed center is on his back after all.
Process Formally Begins to Get Kelly Back in the Mix
From the horse’s mouth, Vikings skipper Kevin O’Connell said Monday, “Ryan Kelly, we’re still figuring out exactly when it takes place, but barring anything changing here, anticipate maybe opening his window at some point in time soon.”
Opening Kelly’s window would give the club a 21-day countdown to add him back to the active roster or release him. The latter won’t occur, so in the coming days, expect the team to announce the opening of the practice window.
Otherwise, O’Connell would’ve said nothing at all about Kelly’s status. The man will try to battle back after two concussions this year.
The Offensive Line’s One Missing Piece
In Week 10, the Vikings trotted out this offensive line fivesome:
— Christian Darrisaw (Left Tackle)
— Donovan Jackson (Left Guard)
— Blake Brandel (Center)
— Will Fries ((Right Guard)
— Brian O’Neill (Right Tackle)
The missing link? It’s Kelly. Minnesota drafted Brandel as a tackle in 2020, converted him to guard a couple of years ago, and switched him to center when Kelly hit injured reserve.
Brandel has played “okay” as a fill-center, but him instead of Kelly is akin to the difference between Jordan Addison and Jeshaun Jones. One is a proven commodity; the other could morph into something impactful with the right amount of time and patience.
The Rumor Mill Got It Wrong
Admittedly, Kelly seemed like a goner. Two sources told VikingsTerritory a few weeks ago that Kelly was done for the season and that he was contemplating retirement. It’s unclear what changed recently. Perhaps Kelly will wear a Guardian helmet, a specifically crafted cap to reduce concussions.
During the Vikings’ overseas trip, for example, updates on Kelly were wholly nonexistent. Most fans understood that he had sustained five concussions in his career, and at age 32, there was no shame in walking away.
A plot twist, Kelly appears to be heading back for at least one more hurrah.
No Exact Date
Here’s the kicker: there is no ironclad return date for Kelly. The Vikings could open his practice window on Tuesday, slating a return this Sunday against the Bears. Or — they could exercise patience and plan his return in three weeks, which would coincide with the game against the Washington Commanders to start December.
The news of Kelly’s impending return is incredibly encouraging. A specific date is mysterious.
Missed Opportunities without Kelly
Sans Kelly in the lineup, the Vikings missed oodles of opportunities on Sunday, argues our Janik Eckardt.
He wrote after the loss, “Well, that was frustrating. J.J. McCarthy tossed a couple of interceptions. The first one was a third-and-six, and after stepping up in the pocket, he inexplicably didn’t scamper for the first-down marker, but heaved the ball deep to Justin Jefferson.”
“That’s generally a decent play, but not when he’s surrounded by two guys. The other one was a third-and-one shot play, dialed up to take a chance deep. If it doesn’t work, just go get the new set of downs on the next play. That’s the theory. Instead, Jefferson fell down, and the defender caught the pass.”
Turnover and penalties, indeed, doomed the Vikings’ hopes of downing the Ravens.
“A third turnover was a Myles Price fumble on a kick return. His teammates recovered another fumble, and McCarthy got a little lucky when Roquan Smith’s interception was overturned because the ball hit the ground. And that’s just the turnovers. In addition to that, the Vikings racked up penalties in a historic way,” Eckardt continued.
“The final score sheet shows 13 penalties for 102 yards. Eight of those were false starts, and that is quite embarrassing. One could add a couple of drops to this list, but the flags and the turnovers were easily enough to lose the game.”
Perhaps the false starts and penalties can diminish when Kelly returns. That’s the hope.
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