Daily Norseman
The Vikings have suffered their fair share of injuries this season. It is unfortunate but part of the game. The train keeps moving though and the next man is up. The depth is going to be tested this week and maybe after the bye as well. I recall reading something from Brian Flores when he was talking about the depth. To paraphrase, he said there is very little difference between the starters and the backups after the very top 5% of players. He said it really comes down to opportunity for most players. Some of these backups are now getting their opportunity.
The Vikings did add another offensive lineman. Matt Waletzko, Offensive Tackle, from North Dakota. He was drafted in the 5th round of the 2022 draft (pick 155).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Waletzko
He missed most of 2022, all of 2023, and appeared in 7 games in 2024. He has 20 snaps in the regular offense and 38 snaps in special teams for his career.
He tested really well at the combine.
I like it. I hope that he can stick and get his career going because the injuries have derailed him thus far.
In the last thread I mentioned some offensive linemen available on practice squads. I still like these players …
IOL Seth McLaughlin – Bengals
OL Trysten Colon – Lions
C Michael Deiter – Commandos
Vikings Navigating Offensive Line Injuries, Guiding 5 to Play as 1
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.
Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell told Twin Cities beat reporters Jurgens is “responding pretty well” to treatment and that he hopes to get him some work during Friday’s practice and “see how he turns over” before game day. If the second-year center can’t go, however, it likely could be Blake Brandel tasked with the job.
Brandel has started 23 of the 60 games he’s played for Minnesota over the past four-plus seasons and has played three different positions on the offensive line. According to analytics site Pro Football Focus, he’s logged 1,197 snaps at left guard (where he started all last season), 295 at left tackle and 164 at right guard.
Brandel has taken practice reps at center, including during the 2023 season; but if he’s called upon Sunday, it will mark his first game lining up there.
“It’s a new role for him. I think he’s done it a little bit, but it’s new, so just got to work through the kinks this week,” quarterback Carson Wentz said. “You know, it’s good to get out there on the grass today, even though it was a shorter capacity of full-speed reps.
“But, you know, I think he seems confident, which is huge. Just that alone makes the difference,” Wentz...
