EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings have been away from home for more than a week.

Their first-of-a-kind doubleheader across the pond in separate countries culminates Sunday in what's being predicted as a defensive slugfest. Minnesota will clash with Cleveland in London at 8:30 a.m. (CT).

The trip has taken a toll in the form of injuries and last week's loss in Dublin, but Vikings players and coaches are embracing a return to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the chance to fly back with baggage including a win. Global star Justin Jefferson identified pros and cons, such as the six-hour time change, but definitely is approving of "trying to expand this game and putting it in different countries," he said.

Jefferson lauded the lengths taken as an organization to ensure players are adequately rested.

"I feel like we had a great plan, a great system," Jefferson noted. "We have our caffeine to keep us up a little bit longer. But I am excited for these types of games. I'm excited to play in front of new fans and a new atmosphere. I always enjoy these types of trips and at the end of the day [enjoy winning the most]."

Head Coach Kevin O'Connell passed along praise for the concerted effort to grow the game overseas.

"I think [the NFL has] tried their absolute best and we've got a great group of people that work for us in-house that have made the trip very much, one that I think is absolutely doable," O'Connell remarked before discussing potential considerations down the line. "I think there's gonna be some factors in the future, if this is something that is gonna become a normal reality there could be some other conversations about roster size and practice squad and game day and all those things because you play one game and you don't get – I've said this a few times, but we don't get a script of how it's going to go; not only last Sunday, but then leading into this Sunday, and there's not exactly a bunch of experienced NFL football players a hop, skip and a jump away. So from a roster standpoint there's some challenges.

"But by the time the ball gets kicked off, it's just football," he added. "No matter where you play it. I know our guys would play in the parking lot if they would let them, so very much looking forward to it."

Vikings Uniform

As the designated road team, Minnesota will rock white jerseys and white pants on top of white tights against the Browns. This uniform look has not been worn by the Vikings in four previous London games.

3 Vikings Storylines

1. New-look offensive line (again)

Minnesota will be idle next week, therefore its bye will occur before its starting five offensive linemen – Christian Darrisaw, Donovan Jackson, Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, Brian O'Neill – handle a single snap together.

Injuries have factored into the Vikings surrendering an NFL-high 18 sacks through four games.

The Week 5 iteration of Minnesota's o-line, from left to right, is as follows: Darrisaw, undrafted rookie Joe Huber making his first start, Blake Brandel trying center, Fries and veteran swing tackle Justin Skule.

Trying center isn't hyperbole. Brandel is a 23-game starter in the NFL. He played stretches of good ball as a starting guard in 2024, and was a backup tackle his first three seasons. He's large, smart and versatile. But he's never played center in an NFL game, only participating in practice reps the past couple of years.

Amazingly, Huber is a bigger mystery. His résumé highlight so far is 12 mop-up snaps in Week 3. Fortunately, O'Connell seems bullish on the former Cincinnati Bearcat and Wisconsin Badgers lineman.

"Yesterday was a little bit more of a physical practice and you're watching Joe in there during the reps he was in, and [he] just feels so rooted and strong, and he's got some pretty unique power to him," O'Connell said. "And then [he possesses] enough movement skills and athleticism to kind of pair that together, and still use the power even when he gets out of position at times, which is going to happen.

"He was able to show that in the preseason," O'Connell added. "Joe was one of those guys that probably – I don't always tell you guys this – but he probably made the team a heckuva lot earlier than the cutdown day. At least in my mind, just with what you can not only see in the present with the player but where we think he can go in the future, and he's done nothing but enhance a lot of those opinions with his time leading up to now. And he's going to get an opportunity to show us where he's at on Sunday."

2. Comfort level for Carson Wentz

To his credit and in spite of the o-line's injury bug, Wentz has proven two things in two games subbing in for injured starter J.J. McCarthy: 1) He's resilient; 2) He can be a smooth operator of Minnesota's offense.

With Wentz at the controls, the unit is averaging 27.5 points and 362 yards per game, the latter is sixth-most league-wide since Week 3. Wentz has completed 66.7 percent of his throws with a 4:2 TD-INT ratio.

O'Connell said "the dialogue with us to him of 'How can we make this fit your eye and fit your comfort level the absolute best way we can?'" has been key to Wentz's acclimation over the past several weeks.

"It's not going to be comfortable for one snap" playing against the Browns on Sunday, O'Connell acknowledged, but the coach believes "if the guys in the huddle do their jobs and we just get simple execution done at a high level, I think we're going to compete and have a chance against these guys.

"I've been really happy with him," O'Connell said. "If you really peel back the layers on it, he's two tipped-ball interceptions away from having a pretty clean sheet and … [is] helping us score some points."

Wentz's third career international start also is his third start for the Vikings, after joining them Aug. 24.

"Every offense is different and so I'm not going to sit and act like it's rocket science by any means, but there's definitely a strategy involved in pre-snap and understanding a game plan and how you're trying to attack a defense," Wentz commented on the complexities of his position. "And there's so much thinking that goes in before the ball is snapped that then leads to that execution – the physical performance side of things. And so that's kind of a little chess game, so to speak, before the ball is even in our hands that I personally love, that I enjoy, and I've embraced for the 10 years I've been doing it."

3. Back to the basics

Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores knows there's more in the tank defensively.

"I tell the guys all the time, whenever there's adversity, there's lessons learned there," Flores shared. "And we've got to learn from those lessons and apply whatever lessons those are in a positive way."

Minnesota met adversity against Atlanta, allowing 218 yards rushing and (5.6 a pop), but responded the very next week, curbing Cincinnati's ground attack to 53 yards and a 2.5 average. Now is an ideal time to replicate that feat, after giving up 131 yards to the Steelers run assault, led by backup Kenneth Gainwell.

There's a proven formula, though it's tedious and can be discounted as coach-speak.

"At the end of the day, it always comes back to our fundamentals, our techniques, our communication," Flores said. "I know that's the boring stuff that nobody wants to hear, but at the end of the day, you know, doing this for a long time, that's really always what it is, and [the players] know it, too. It's monotonous, it's boring – nothing sexy about some of this stuff – but that's the crux, the meat and potatoes, the foundation of playing good, solid defense, and you've just got to always get back to that.

"It's funny, two weeks ago it's the Isaiah Rodgers game, and that's sexy and that's what everybody wants to talk about, and again, that's one of those things you learn in a game is everybody wants the sexy stuff," Flores continued. "You've just got to do a better job of the things that aren't, that are just boring."

That means setting edges, filling gaps, wrapping up tackles, flying to the football and playing poised.

2 Things 'Bout the Browns

1. Set to start: Dillon Gabriel

A historical trip for Minnesota features another historical moment for Cleveland.

In benching Super Bowl XLVII MVP Joe Flacco and passing the baton to Gabriel, the Browns third-round rookie will become the first NFL quarterback, ever, to make his first career start in an international game.

Overall, rookies boast a 4-7 record in starts on foreign soil.

O'Connell said he watched Gabriel quite a bit in college. In six seasons with three different schools (Central Florida, Oklahoma and Oregon), Gabriel produced video-game numbers, including an all-time FBS record 155 passing touchdowns (Gabriel actually tied former Viking and Brown Case Keenum, who had as many in college from 2007-11 and started in Minnesota's win over Cleveland in London in 2017).

Gabriel led each program to a season of 10-plus wins and finished third in the 2024 Heisman Trophy race, accounting for 4,006 yards of offense and 37 total touchdowns under center for the 13-1 Ducks.

Gabriel is Cleveland's 41^st starting QB and 13^th rookie starting QB since 1999.

"The one thing that jumped out at me was he was always in command," O'Connell said.

The Vikings coach described Gabriel as a "very decisive, accurate thrower" with "way-above-the-line athleticism" that he expects Cleveland to utilize by moving the pocket and getting him to the perimeter.

"Kevin [Stefanski has] always been a really good marriage-of-the-run-and-the-pass kind of guy from a keeper standpoint, play-pass standpoint. Then they've got a bunch of weapons to go along with a really good run game," O'Connell detailed. "So regardless of who was playing quarterback, that was going to be the challenge. But Dylan brings a level of mobility and athleticism that I think we've got to account for."

Flores, by the way, is 5-0 facing a rookie quarterback as the Vikings defensive coordinator.

One last thought: Another Browns rookie, second-round RB Quinshon Judkins, is up to 281 scrimmage yards and two TDs in three games after missing the entire offseason. He's responsible for 69.9 percent of Cleveland's rush yards (3^rd-most in the NFL) and is averaging 4.18 yards after contact, according to Pro Football Focus; that's second to David Montgomery (4.26) among players with at least 40 rush attempts.

2. One of a kind on the d-line

Myles Garrett hardly needs an introduction. We'll give one anyway.

He's 29 years old (won't turn 30 until Dec. 29 this year) has 106.5 sacks and needs two to pass Reggie White for the most by a player prior to their 30^th birthday. White tallied 108 by that milestone; Vikings Legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jared Allen is third on that leaderboard, so you know, with 105.

Garrett is T-2^nd in the NFL with 11 "quick" pressures (within 2.5 seconds), and is the surest game-wrecker for the No. 1-ranked total defense in 2025, helping the Browns restrict offenses to 222.5 yards per game.

"I've played against Myles a couple times. He's a beast," said Wentz, soft-pedaling with a laugh. "He's as good as it gets on that side of the ball. [I have] so much respect for him, both as a player and as a person.

"Obviously, we've all got our work cut out for us," Wentz added. "Very aware of where he's at."

Garrett has 1.5 sacks of Wentz in his career. He has predominantly aligned on the right side this year (83.7 percent of snaps per Next Gen Stats), hinting at a showdown with Vikings stud left tackle Darrisaw.

Obviously, against a reconfigured offensive line, Garrett's positioning could look dramatically different.

1 Key Matchup

Vikings OL vs. Browns DL

Same as last week, this matchup is impossible to ignore.

"If they're not the best, they're absolutely up there with some of the other [fronts] we'll play this year on our schedule, and have played," O'Connell said. "It all starts with 95 (Garrett). He's as unique of a player we have in the league as far as his every down impact – run and pass; he's out on special teams trying to block punts; he's trying to block field goals. I mean he's literally, every play you can think of – just hope they don't split him out at X receiver and try to throw him fades. Hopefully I don't give them any ideas.

"But it's not just [Myles]," O'Connell elaborated. "They're one of those classic kind of fronts that are just – everything about what they do is forward, and they're trying to win the line of scrimmage from the split second of that ball getting snapped. [They] go forward, through you, around you, whatever it takes."

In addition to Garrett, the Browns front seven is stocked with No. 5 overall draft pick DT Mason Graham, star rookie tackling machine LB Carson Schwesinger and veteran problem DT Maliek Collins. Nine Cleveland players enter with at least half a sack in 2025, and Garrett leads the league with eight TFL.

The possible return of fullback C.J. Ham, who is questionable for Sunday after a stint on short-term Injured Reserve, would be a bonus for the Vikings because of his blocking repertoire in the run and pass.

Top Quotes of Week 5

Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores on getting grief for Harrison Smith's lighter workload

"It's funny, even my boys are like, 'Why isn't he playing as much?' You can't just throw somebody into an NFL game. I recognize that [everybody is used to seeing him on the field]. What they don't see is the preparation that goes into getting ready for NFL games and an NFL season. And [Harry] missed a big chunk of that (because of an illness), so without that, we've got to be smart about our usage with him. But I think over the course of a 17-game season – and in two weeks – he'll be back up to where we want him [as far as snaps]. But those other guys are playing well too. Theo [Jackson] is playing well, and [Joshua] Metellus is playing well, but obviously Harry's a big part of what we do, so we'll inch our way to that point. He's doing a great job, he's getting healthier, getting his wind and conditioning back – strength back. He's a guy that we need out on the field, and when he's ready we'll get him out there."

Carson Wentz on if he's a different player in Year 10 than he was in his first nine NFL seasons

"For sure. Every year, there's a lot to learn. Got more kids almost every stop I go on too, which just makes life a little crazier. But yeah, I mean, you learn everywhere you go, which has been fun. I've been fortunate to play for some really good coaches in this league, especially the last couple of years. And so I've learned from different coaches and learned behind a couple of all-time greats at their position, too, the last two years between [Matthew] Stafford and [Patrick] Mahomes. And so I've learned a lot both on and off the field. And I've been in different roles. I was a starter, I've been a backup now, I kind of was a starter, then lost my job. I've kind of seen it all. That's helped me just kind of have a different perspective on how to just help the team however I can; have a very open-handed kind of attitude and mentality to just help – whatever that looks like. Am I perfect? By no means. But I'm trying to soak up as much as I can everywhere I go and just be the best person, player, friend, teammate, husband, father, all the things that I can learn, and do the best I can."

From the Inbox – by Craig Peters

This question is not necessarily related to the game, but my question is, do practice squad players travel with the team? My guess would be no since we are scrambling to construct an offensive line for the upcoming game against Cleveland. It makes sense, that in a circumstance like this, where a team volunteers to play back-to-back international games, the practice squad being allowed to travel.

I know we can protect a certain number of players each week, what is that number?

In my opinion, in this special circumstance, the practice squad should be with the team and all players protected until after the Browns game. The logistics of getting a player overseas at the last minute, would obviously be costly to the organization.

Finally, how many offensive linemen are currently on our practice squad?

Thank you for your time,

— Troy Boblitt in Springfield, Illinois

I'd say the question has considerable overlap with getting to game day.

The Vikings did travel their entire 16-player practice squad for this unprecedented two-week venture. This is unique from a regular-season road game when teams usually decide if they have any elevations for a Sunday game (Minnesota announces if so before leaving for the airport). In that situation, the players being elevated for that week's game also make the trip.

NFL teams are able to protect up to four practice squad players per week from being signed to another team's active roster. The nature of leaving for such a long trip may also have served as an unofficial protection of sorts because it would have required quite a bit for a team to sign someone from Minnesota's practice squad.

The shifting of the offensive line by the Vikings this week indicates just how badly the injury bug has chomped Minnesota.

The Vikings placed 10 offensive linemen on their 53-man roster. Starters Jackson (wrist), Kelly (concussion protocol) and O'Neill (knee) were not placed on Injured Reserve. Nor was Michael Jurgens (hamstring).

All four were ruled out Friday, leaving six offensive linemen. Teams usually try to carry eight into a game.

Prior to heading overseas, Minnesota's practice squad included interior offensive linemen Vershon Lee and Henry Byrd, as well as tackle Max Pircher, who is an exemption as an International Player Pathway participant. The Vikings were able to transport Minnesota native Matt Waletzko to the UK to sign him to their practice squad, which also meant parting ways with receiver Tim Jones.

In the current situation, the Vikings will be able to use up to two standard elevations, which will be announced Saturday.

During his final press conference of the week, O'Connell was asked if he thinks the novel two-week structure attempted by the Vikings was something that could continue in the future or if he considered it to be a "tough ask." He responded with quotes Rob used in the intro.

I'd imagine that roster limitations/exemptions conversations continue to evolve with the number of international games and locales continuing to increase.

Why are starters playing on special teams? It seems to me like the backup linemen should be doing those duties.

Thanks.

—Pat Quam

This question is related to the last but also worth covering. The reason circles back to roster numbers on game day. Teams are allowed a maximum of 48 players to be active, so they must make five to seven inactive, depending on if they are using up to two standard elevations.

There are not enough backups active to avoid having to have some starters play on special teams. Perhaps that's another element for owners and players to discuss.

It was extremely unfortunate that a technique deployed by the Steelers that could have resulted in a penalty flag went unpunished for Pittsburgh and resulted in O'Neill's injury. The sun-peeking-through-the-clouds moment (locals here seem to sincerely appreciate those) is that O'Neill's injury diagnosis was not as bad as things could have been.

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