Minnesota Vikings starting left guard Donovan Jackson will miss the team’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers after having wrist surgery on Monday, head coach Kevin O’Connell said.
Jackson was the team’s first round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and it is a unit that just got Christian Darrisaw back onto the field after offseason knee surgery. Against the Cincinnati Bengals, they missed starting center Ryan Kelly as well as tackle Justin Skule. Now, Jackson, who played through the injury on Sunday, will head to short-term injured reserve.
That means Blake Brendel his backup will plug in for him moving forward. Brendel started all 17 games for the team last season, so they are familiar with him and what he brings to the table.
However, they drafted Jackson to upgrade over Brendel and make him a depth piece. Now, he will be asked to fill in against Steelers star defensive tackle Cam Heyward in a tough matchup.
Brendel has 22 career starts over five NFL seasons, and with Darrisaw back in the fold, the Vikings should be much better equipped to handle opposing pass rushers. O’Connell also seemed optimistic that both Kelly and Skule would return form their injuries against the Steelers.
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