LONDON — The Minnesota Vikings positioned heart Ryan Kelly on injured reserve Saturday, which means he’ll miss a minimum of 4 video games after struggling two concussions within the first month of the season.
The choice is a long-term blow for an offensive line that will likely be lacking a complete of three starters for Sunday’s recreation towards the Cleveland Browns.
Kelly had beforehand sustained a minimum of three concussions in his NFL profession. He went into the NFL’s concussion protocol through the Vikings’ second recreation of the season and missed the next recreation. He returned final week towards the Pittsburgh Steelers however went again into the protocol at halftime.
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The Vikings signed Kelly to a two-year, $18 million free agent contract in March as a part of their effort to stabilize the inside of their offensive line. However at age 32, it is not clear when he will likely be able to resume taking part in.
Requested final week whether or not any bigger conversations about Kelly had been obligatory given his concussion historical past, coach Kevin O’Connell stated: “Clearly the well being of our gamers is at all times the … starting, center and finish. So we’ll completely defer to the docs, and we’ll defer to the protocol, and in the end, we’ll wish to make sure that Ryan is in a great place. That is not something I notably ever wish to fiddle with. We’ll be good, and on the similar time it is undoubtedly not my lane to weigh in on these issues till the medical workers or we get to that place.”
Along with Kelly, the Vikings will likely be with out proper sort out Brian O’Neill (proper MCL) and left guard Donovan Jackson (left wrist) towards the Browns. Kelly’s backup, Michael Jurgens, will even be unavailable due to a hamstring harm. Meaning Blake Brandel, who performed final week for Jackson, will make his first begin at heart. Rookie Joe Huber is the doubtless starter at left guard.
On Saturday, the Vikings signed rookie heart Vershon Lee from their apply squad to again up Brandel and elevated guard Henry Byrd for added depth. Additionally they activated fullback C.J. Ham from injured reserve and waived quarterback Desmond Ridder.
