By admin 
The Minnesota Vikings have gotten through the first marker of the season with a perfect 5-0 record, and that’s certainly ideal for a team that lost eight of its first 12 games in 2025. The Vikings have built a two-game lead in the NFC North as the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers are all 3-2.
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The Vikings will be in a strong position to get to 6-0 when they return as they have a home game against the Indianapolis Colts, and this is a team that has struggled quite a bit on the defensive side of the ball.
Opponents have outgained them by 452 yards (1,921-1,469). They have also gotten hammered on the takeaway/turnover table. The Colts have given the ball away eight times, and have just two takeaways — one fumble recovery and one interception.
The Vikings will have an excellent chance to get through that game, but the schedule gets much tougher after that. As head coach Kevin O’Connell looks at his team preparing to face a series of difficult opponents, the offensive line appears to be the team’s most vulnerable area.
As the season got underway, many of the team’s closest observers held the belief that the offensive line would be one of the team’s greatest strengths. The reason for that is the presence of OLT Christian Darrisaw and ORT Brian O’Neill.
Darrisaw’s health is big issue for the Vikings
The 27-year-old Darrisaw should be in the prime of his career. He is in his sixth season with the Vikings, but he cannot stay healthy. Injuries held him to seven games in 2024 and 10 games last year. He suffered a concussion in Week 4 against the Dolphins and after coming out of that game early, he did not play against the Saints.
The Vikings are hoping he will be out of the concussion protocol against the Colts, but the issue of future injuries may linger as the season moves forward.
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The 31-year-old O’Neill is in his ninth year, all with the Vikings. He was a second-round pick in 2018 and he had a knee issue going into the Saints game and he was listed as questionable. He did play, but he was not at his best.
Additionally, the Vikings lost OLG Donovan Jackson to a torn meniscus against the Dolphins and his season is over following surgery.
The Vikings have to go with Ryan Van Demark in Darrisaw’s spot, and it will be a major issue going forward if he is forced to remain in the lineup. Joe Huber is starting in Jackson’s spot and he appeared to show some improvement after being inserted into the lineup.
Center Blake Brandel and right guard Will Fries are healthy, but they have not been cleaning opponents out and dominating. With the injuries suffered on the left side of the line, offensive line coach Keith Carter needs to see more from that duo.
The Vikings had their most productive offensive game in the 23-13 win over the Saints, but the schedule becomes an issue after Week Seven because they will face the Lions, Bills, Packers and 49ers in consecutive weeks.
The play of the offensive line will likely tell the story against those dangerous opponents.
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This story was originally published October 13, 2026 at 8:15 PM.