RETURNEES: Blake Brandel, Henry Byrd (practice squad in 2025), Christian Darrisaw, Will Fries, Joe Huber, Donovan Jackson, Michael Jurgens, Vershon Lee (PS in 2025), Brian O’Neill, Walter Rouse

NEWCOMERS: Veteran Ryan Van Demark; draft picks Gavin Gerhardt and Caleb Tiernan; UDFAs Tristan Leigh, Delby Lemieux, Tomas Rimac

NOTABLE DEPARTURES: Ryan Kelly (retired following the season)

2025 RECAP: The Vikings reworked their offensive line last offseason and entered the 2026 campaign with ample optimism.

Minnesota added veteran free agents Kelly and Fries at center and right guard, respectively, then drafted Jackson 24th overall to assume the left guard spot. O’Neill retained his role at right tackle, while Christian Darrisaw worked to return to left tackle after suffering a knee injury in Week 8 of the 2024 season.

Positivity was short-lived, though, as the Vikings offensive line sustained a barrage of injury woes. Kelly took the brunt, landing in concussion protocol three different times; he ended up playing just eight games and accounting for 329 offensive snaps.

Darrisaw couldn’t quite hit his stride, either, starting just 10 games — he was replaced by Justin Skule — and often playing on a pitch count. He finished the campaign having played 504 snaps.

Jackson and O’Neill played 14 games apiece, each falling victim to minor injuries.

Jurgens started three games and played in 15 during his second pro season, logging 309 offensive snaps and 42 on special teams. Fellow second-year lineman Rouse played 88 snaps, and Huber, who impressed coaches during training camp as an undrafted rookie, played 79.

Minnesota’s offensive line was charged with 33 penalties, the second-most by the unit in the Kevin O’Connell era (34 in 2024). Darrisaw was flagged seven times, the most he’s received in a season; Brandel and O’Neill each were penalized five times.

Analytics site Pro Football Focus ranked the Vikings OL 18th in the league but noted the group gave up 173 pressures, including 26 sacks, in 578 pass plays. PFF called O’Neill “the lone bright spot,” his 81.6 overall grade ranking sixth among right tackles.

When all was said and done, the position group that featured 10 different linemen (and 26 combos — more on that later) throughout the season simply was asked to overcome more hurdles than any one unit should.