It's possible Carson Wentz will be taking snaps from his third center in as many weeks this Sunday.
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 continued. "The guy going out there feeling confident in their calls, ability to get us in and out of the right calls up front, in the run game and all those things.
"I think he'll do great," Wentz added. "He's been around this business, this league, for a while now, played a lot of games. So moving him inside, I think he'll do a great job."
If Brandel does need to play center, rookie Joe Huber would step into the left guard spot for fellow rookie Donovan Jackson, who underwent wrist surgery following Minnesota's Week 3 game against Cincinnati. (Brandel filled in at LG against the Steelers last week.)
"We're trying to get the best five out there," O'Connell emphasized, noting Brandel's flexibility offers the team adaptability.
"You've got a guy that knows the system inside and out," O'Connell said. "Then it's just about the rest of the four guys being able to operate, you know, with some kind of togetherness. The group has to work five as one, not individual guys."
The Vikings have already navigated what feels like a season's worth of offensive line shuffles through their first four games.
They entered the 2025 season with the following plan up front:
LT Christian Darrisaw
LG Donovan Jackson
C Ryan Kelly
RG Will Fries
RT Brian O'Neill
They have yet to have a snap in a game where all five play together.
The team was careful in bringing Darrisaw back from the knee injury he suffered Week 8 last season, and he has made a significant impact since returning against the Bengals. Kelly has missed time twice due to concussions, and O'Neill suffered a sprained MCL in Dublin.
Minnesota of course has also been hit with injuries elsewhere, as Wentz is currently starting while J.J. McCarthy rehabs a high ankle sprain suffered Week 2.
Consistently needing to shuffle the offensive line certainly isn't ideal. O'Connell is proud of his players' team-first mentality, though, in their willingness to play whatever position needed and answer the bell when called.
Wentz similarly appreciates the blue-collar mindset and determination of the offensive line, regardless of the combination at any given point.
"Never question their effort. You know, that's one thing I think has been constant, no matter who's in there, whether it's in practice [or in a game]," he explained. "I've only been here for a short period of time, but there's no questioning the effort and the look in their eye when they come in the huddle, like, they're ready to go. We're all gonna make mistakes, and those things will happen. But their effort and their attitude and determination to get it right has never wavered, no matter who's been in there.
"Even seeing different guys in the huddle today … guys are locked in and want to do the best they can, and they're ready to compete," Wentz added. "Injuries are an unfortunate part of this game. I've seen it myself … every year this happens. And so depth comes to be really critical, especially at those positions, and I think we've got some good ones here that are ready to accept that challenge."
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