There isn’t much that could have dampened the mood around the Minnesota Vikings following their 38-point drubbing of the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, but more unfortunate injury luck did its best in that regard the following day.
Left guard and first-round rookie Donovan Jackson hurt his wrist against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2, though he was able to return to play the following week against the Bengals. However, surgery will now keep him sidelined for the next month.
“Vikings rookie LG Donovan Jackson had surgery on his wrist today, per Kevin O’Connell,” ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reported via X. “Suffered the injury in Week 2 but played with it in Week 3. Expected back on the field after the Week 7 bye. Was on the injury report last week and was limited to two practices.”
O’Connell went on to note that team doctors cleared Jackson to play against the Bengals, saying he ran no risk of making the existing injury any worse.
The team will start Blake Brandel in Jackson’s place while the latter recovers from his recent procedure, which will include the upcoming two-week trip to the United Kingdom. The Vikings take on the Pittsburgh Steelers next Sunday in Dublin, Ireland before squaring off with the Cleveland Browns the following weekend in London, England.
Donovan Jackson Latest in String of Injuries on Vikings’ Offensive Line
GettyMinnesota Vikings offensive lineman Donovan Jackson.
The offensive line was a primary focus of Minnesota’s over the offseason, though the unit has been hit hardest by the injury bug early in the year.
The Vikings used their sole first-round selection to add Jackson out of Ohio State with the No. 24 overall pick after spending big money to bring in two former Indianapolis Colts in free agency — starting center Ryan Kelly and starting right guard Will Fries.
Kelly suffered a concussion that knocked him out early against the Falcons and sidelined him for the game against Cincinnati Sunday. However, O’Connell said on Monday that Kelly is tracking to get back onto the field for next weekend’s overseas showdown with the Steelers.
Also out for the first two games of the season was star left tackle Christian Darrisaw, as he continued rehabilitating a knee injury he sustained during the middle of the 2024 campaign, which sidelined him for the remainder of that year.
Darrisaw returned Week 3 against the Bengals, and Kelly will join him in the starting lineup against Pittsburgh. Jackson, however, will be out. And given the timeline of Jackson’s expected return, Minnesota will go at least the first six games of its season without a fully healthy offensive line.
Vikings’ Banged Up Offensive Line Has Contributed to J.J. McCarthy’s Poor Play, Injury
GettyQuarterback J.J. McCarthy of the Minnesota Vikings.
The lack of five healthy starters on the O-line showed up in a major way in the Vikings’ only loss of the season, which came to Atlanta in Week 2.
The Falcons defense, which allowed 30 points to the Carolina Panthers‘ less-than-stellar offense on Sunday, held Minnesota to just six points. Atlanta notched 11 quarterback hits and six sacks in that game, and ended up injuring starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the process.
McCarthy sat out Week 3 and could miss between two and four games before it’s all said and done. However, the team announced Sunday that the second-year signal-caller will be joining the Vikings for their trip to Europe, which provides hope that he could return to the starting lineup either next game or in the contest that follows.
In the meantime, backup quarterback Carson Wentz will start. He produced 173 passing yards and two touchdowns in Minnesota’s 48-10 victory Sunday.
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