The Vikings will continue their push for a wild-card spot without one of their starting offensive linemen. Mason Cole is now on IR.
Minnesota’s right guard starter for the past few games, Cole suffered an elbow injury Monday night in Chicago. He will miss at least the next three games. This news comes a day after the Vikings learned they will be without Dalvin Cook against the Rams. Cole suffered a hyperextended elbow, per Mike Zimmer, but could make it back for the playoffs — should Minnesota qualify.
Coming over via trade after multiple seasons as the Cardinals’ starting center, Cole has started the past seven games for the Vikings. He broke into Minnesota’s lineup at center, replacing Garrett Bradbury during the starting snapper’s COVID-19 hiatus, and then moved to right guard. Cole started 32 games with Arizona from 2018-20. He is set for free agency in 2022.
Minnesota will turn to Oli Udoh to replace Cole, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets. Udoh has started 13 games, at guard and tackle, for the Vikes this year but was on the bench in Week 15. Pro Football Focus slots the third-year blocker as its No. 61 overall guard this season.
Mason Cole is also suffering from both third and fourth degree burns, the result of constant torching all night long on Monday 12/20/21 by the Chicago Bears’ Akiem Harris.