Injuries have been a constant issue for the Minnesota Vikings‘ offensive front this season, and the team got more bad news in that regard Thursday.
Tight end Josh Oliver, who has played in seven games and started two of those this season, will likely miss Minnesota’s Week 9 road matchup with the division rival Detroit Lions due to a foot injury. However, the update wasn’t entirely negative.
Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune shared the mixed-bag report via social media.
“Kevin O’Connell said Josh Oliver will likely be out this week because of a foot sprain,” Goessling wrote. “X-rays showed the #Vikings avoided a long-term injury with the tight end, O’Connell said.”
Josh Oliver’s Absence Will Hurt Ability of Vikings Offense to Block, Which Has Already Been Problem All Year
GettyTight end Josh Oliver of the Minnesota Vikings.
That Oliver isn’t bound for the injured reserve list (IR) is a pleasant turn of events for Minnesota. However, that he’s going to miss a crucial game for the Vikings (3-4) on Sunday poses a significant problem.
Oliver is not necessarily a playmaker in the pass game, with just five catches for 61 yards and two scores this season after posting career highs across the board with 22 grabs for 258 yards and three TDs in 2024.
However, Minnesota signed him to a $21 million contract in 2023 and a new $23 million deal in June for what he provides as a blocking tight end, to go along with the fact that he can catch a meaningful pass here and there.
The Vikings have asked starting tight end and two-time Pro Bowler T.J. Hockenson to stay in and pass block more often this season than he ever has in his NFL career, which has led to decreased production from a statistical standpoint and minimized his value as a playmaker.
The load will be even heavier on Hockenson with Oliver out Sunday, and the blocking burden will be even greater on an offensive line that has struggled mightily all season long.
Vikings Offensive Line Playing Poorly, Trending Downward Amid Injury Issues
GettyRight tackle Brian O’Neill #75 and left tackle Christian Darrisaw #71 of the Minnesota Vikings.
Pro Football Focus ranked Minnesota’s offensive line 24th in the league heading into Week 9, as starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw and starting right tackle Brian O’Neill are both questionable for the contest, while starting center Ryan Kelly remains on IR.
“The [Los Angeles] Chargers had their way with Minnesota’s offensive line in Week 8, producing 21 pressures — including five sacks — on 36 pass plays. The Vikings’ line finished with a 63.9 PFF pass-blocking efficiency rating, which ranked dead last in the NFL,” Zoltán Buday wrote Wednesday. “The front continues to deal with injuries. Right tackle Brian O’Neill did not play against the Chargers in Week 8, while left tackle Christian Darrisaw exited the game after just nine snaps.”
The Vikings’ inability to protect the quarterback is even more frightening, as J.J. McCarthy will presumably return to the starting lineup in Detroit for the first time since suffering a high-ankle sprain in Week 2. The Atlanta Falcons hit the second-year QB 11 times during that contest, recording six sacks in the process.
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