The Vikings have spent most of the preseason looking fairly settled at the spots that matter. The offensive line is the exception, and the center position is where the uncertainty has started to look especially uncomfortable.
Ryan Kelly’s retirement in March after multiple concussions opened the door, and Minnesota appeared ready to move forward with Blake Brandel in the middle. Brandel, 29, filled in at tackle and guard earlier in his career before stepping in for Kelly last season, so the move wasn’t exactly a leap of faith. But training camp has complicated that plan.
Brandel is expected to be out there in Week 1 against the Packers, yet his work on shotgun snaps has been shaky. His exchanges with the quarterback have also been an issue, leaving more questions than the Vikings probably wanted this late in the summer. Even so, the team still seems to believe he’ll be prepared for the home opener.
The bigger concern may be what comes after him. Michael Jurgens, a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, is back after logging 309 snaps at guard and center last season. That was a meaningful step forward after he didn’t play a single offensive snap as a rookie, but he still hasn’t separated himself as a clear challenger.
Gavin Gerhardt is also in the mix, though the rookie from Cincinnati has yet to make much of an impression in practices or at camp. Right now, he doesn’t look like a real threat to push Brandel or Jurgens.
And when Brandel was absent from practice, the Vikings even had offensive guard Joe Huber working at center. That kind of emergency cross-training can be useful, but it also says plenty about how thin Minnesota feels behind its projected starter.
In Other News...
Vikings Still Have A Backup QB Problem After J.J. McCarthy Exit
J.J. McCarthys preseason debut for Minnesota was supposed to be a longer audition, but it ended early against the Baltimore Ravens after an undisclosed injury forced him out of the game. Before leaving, he had completed 5 of 10 passes for 81 yards, and Kevin OConnell said McCarthy was slated to play more before the injury limited his night. McCarthy has described the issue as minor and not something he expects to affect his availability.
Even so, the Vikings are still sorting through their quarterback depth chart, and McCarthys brief appearance only adds another layer to a competition that remains unsettled. With Kyler Murray entrenched as the starter, the backup spot is still very much open, and Minnesota now has to balance McCarthys recovery with whatever evaluation time remains in the preseason. [Read more 🡒]
Former Vikings Coach Is Creating A Concern Minnesota Knows Too Well
Chris Kuper is wasting no time making an impression in Philadelphia. The former Vikings offensive line coach has taken over the Eagles room, and early preseason work has already pointed to encouraging signs from a group of backup linemen who have looked more organized under his direction.
For Minnesota, that kind of development brings back a familiar concern. The Vikings know how much a coach can shape the trenches, and Kuper now has a chance to prove himself in a new setting while his old team watches another familiar face try to build a line into a strength. The real answer will come with time, but Philadelphias early returns at least suggest the transition is off to a promising start. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Offense Is Giving Fans A Debate They Did Not Want
Two preseason games in, the Vikings have already given their fans an uncomfortable conversation to have. The first loss came with the offense looking out of sync across the board, as young quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy and Max Brosmer both struggled to find much traction, while the running game has not offered much relief either.
There has even been unease in 7-on-7 work with Kyler Murray, adding another layer to an offense that has not yet settled into a rhythm. Minnesotas ground attack is averaging less than four yards per carry with no touchdowns through two games, and for a team trying to sort out its identity before the games count, the questions are piling up faster than the answers. [Read more 🡒]