KOC Offers Postgame Injury Updates on MN Vikings O-Linemen

The Minnesota Vikings played an emotionally draining Week 4 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday morning CDT. Entering the weekend, “experts” were largely picking the Vikings to roll Aaron Rodgers & Co., but that’s definitely not how things played out in Dublin.

Vikings could be without Brian O’Neill for a while

Carson Wentz did what he could to keep the team in it, but injuries on the offensive line made his effort fruitless. The scariest injury from week 4 was Brian O’Neill, who left the game after suffering a knee injury blocking for a field goal and never returned. In his postgame, Kevin O’Connell reported afterward as a possible MCL injury.

Kevin O’Connell said Brian O’Neill will have an MRI tonight in Dublin. Said medical people were examining his MCL.

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) September 28, 2025

Initially the injury was tagged with a questionable designation to return, but it became pretty clear by halftime that the Pro Bowl right tackle was not returning.

For the first couple of weeks this season, the Minnesota Vikings were without starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw. Justin Skule started in his place and things went poorly. Brian O’Neill is just as important to the right side of Minnesota’s O-line as Darrisaw is for the left side.

With O’Neill getting an MRI before Minnesota even leaves Dublin, things aren’t looking up. The Vikings are headed to London for a game against the Cleveland Browns next weekend. Hopefully there is no ligament tear, but a sprain is also likely to cost the veteran some time.

Bad news for Minnesota Vikings Ryan Kelly

It wasn’t just O’Neill that went down among the Minnesota Vikings offensive linemen on Sunday. Shortly after O’Neill’s exit, center Ryan Kelly joined him in the training room with yet another concussion, his second in three weeks and fifth of his career.

Asked about Ryan Kelly’s second concussion in four games, and whether larger conversations need to be had, Kevin O’Connell defers to medical staff and says it’s not his lane weigh in.

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) September 28, 2025

Minnesota, Kelly, and team doctors will need to now have some very serious discussions about his path forward. A pair of concussions in a four-week time span is not a good outcome. It’s also his fifth career concussion that has been documented, and quality of life considerations going forward are worthwhile to weigh.

This offseason the Vikings signed Kelly to take over for Garrett Bradbury. He certainly raised the water level of the offensive line abilities, but he did come with injury concerns of his own. It’s difficult to pin a concussion on the training staff, but much was gambled on players with injury histories.

It seems likely that Minnesota will be without their starting center, guard, and right tackle next weekend against the Browns. Five weeks into the season the Vikings will have yet to see what their complete intended starting offensive line looks like. That isn’t changing any time soon.