Injuries utterly upended the Minnesota Vikings’ offensive line in 2025, and they’ll hope for a clean bill of health this go-around. That starts at training camp, which will be in full swing by Tuesday when veterans join the rookies, who are scheduled to arrive on Sunday. To get you ready for the event, we are profiling each Vikings position. The next stop is the offensive line.
From left to right, Minnesota projects to start Christian Darrisaw, Donovan Jackson, Blake Brandel, Will Fries and Brian O’Neill. The Vikings also promoted Keith Carter to offensive line coach after declining to renew Chris Kuper’s contract; Kuper subsequently joined Philadelphia.
Healthy Starters with a Crowded Reserve Battle
Christian Darrisaw (LT)
Darrisaw will reportedly participate fully at training camp, music to the ears of Vikings fans because his ACL recovery has not followed a linear path. He could play all 17 games this season and perhaps secure an elusive Pro Bowl nomination.
He said that he “felt great” in June.
Brian O’Neill (RT)
O’Neill is due for a contract extension, and all signs point to Minnesota locking that in sometime soon. It would be strange to let go of such a sturdy right tackle. Suddenly, O’Neill is the long-tenured Viking – – if Harrison Smith doesn’t unretire.
Donovan Jackson (LG)
Jackson put together a promising rookie campaign, with a Pro Football Focus score near 60.0. His second season should begin to show if he’s a fantastic guard or just a good one.
He owns the LG job beyond the shadow of a doubt.
Will Fries (RG)
Fries needs a bounce-back season. He didn’t struggle profusely in 2025 – – his PFF score graded at 61.8 – – but his five-year, $87 million deal should fetch grades in the 80s, not the low 60s.
He has no serious competition at RG.
Blake Brandel (C)
Perhaps the most intriguing lineman of the summer, the Vikings will give Brandel an audition at center. He played the position last year while Ryan Kelly battled concussion and improved weekly.
One drawback of Brandel’s promotion? Minnesota no longer has Brandel’s steady-eddy depth. For example, if Fries gets hurt, the club can’t just throw Brandel into the starting lineup at guard.
Caleb Tiernan (OT)
Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski and head coach Kevin O’Connell used a 3rd-round pick on an offensive tackle when they didn’t need a starting offensive tackle. The selection proved the Vikings were serious about the “best player available” strategy in the draft.
If Darrisaw or O’Neill get hurt, fans will wonder if Tiernan or the next guy on the list hop into the lineup.
Ryan Van Demark (OT)
Van Demark played 312 offensive snaps for the Buffalo Bills a year ago – – backup duty — and produced a 74.0 PFF mark. Minnesota lured him away from Buffalo in March, and now he’s marvelous depth tackle in the vein of David Quessenberry and Justin Skule.
Walter Rouse (OT)
The Vikings drafted Rouse late in the 2024 NFL Draft and haven’t implemented him on offense much. He’s also the victim of Tiernan and Van Demark joining the fun this offseason.
Minnesota will either get really deep at OT, move Rouse to guard, or he’ll become a roster-bubble candidate in a few weeks.
Michel Jurgens (C)
This 2024 7th-rounder is the primary backup to Brandel. He may also have some backup guard optionality.
Gavin Gerhardt (C)
Vikings fans thought the purple team would leave the 2026 NFL Draft with a shiny new rookie center like Logan Jones, Sam Hecht, Jake Slaughter, or Connor Lew. Instead, O’Connell and Co. fell in love with Gerhardt in Round 7.
Joe Huber (OG)
Huber might be the main backup guard if Rouse doesn’t convert to the position. He played 79 offensive snaps as an undrafted rookie in 2025.
Henry Byrd (OG)
Byrd may actually make the active roster this year, entering his fourth season in Minnesota’s organization (practice squad, 2023-2024) after making his NFL debut with two appearances in 2025. He usually starts the season on the practice squad and bides his time for a call-up.
Tristan Leigh (OT)
The former five-star recruit and 2025 Clemson captain logged 2,202 offensive snaps across 42 college games, including 33 starts.
Verhson Lee (OT)
Lee offers valuable interior versatility after starting 40 games at South Carolina – – 18 at center, 16 at left guard, and six at right tackle.
Delby Lemieux (OG)
The former Dartmouth tackle transitioned inside during the Senior Bowl process, where his athleticism and ability to play guard or center strengthened his NFL case.
Tomas Rimac (OT)
The 6-foot-6, 317-pound rookie brings extensive college experience from West Virginia and Virginia Tech, along with the size and versatility to compete at guard or tackle.
VikesNow Projection for OL on 53-Man Roster:
- Christian Darrisaw (LT)
- Brian O’Neill (RT)
- Donovan Jackson (LG)
- Will Fries (RG)
- Blake Brandel (C)
- Caleb Tiernan (OT)
- Ryan Van Demark (OT)
- Michel Jurgens (C)
- Gavin Gerhardt (C)
- Joe Huber (OG)
If injuries don’t affect the starting lineup at last year’s clip, this unit has the makings of a Top 12 group or so leaguewide.
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VikesNow Verdict: The Vikings’ projected starting five carries sweet upside if Darrisaw returns to form and Brandel stabilizes center. The greater camp intrigue involves the reserves, where Van Demark’s experience, Tiernan’s developmental upside and the Jurgens-Gerhardt competition will determine whether the group can survive another wave of injuries.
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