The Vikings have activated guard Dalton Risner from injured reserve ahead of their Week 9 tilt with the Colts, giving them more options along their offensive line as they contend with Christian Darrisaw‘s season-ending injury.
Darrisaw’s absence has left a hole at left tackle in Minnesota, with the team trading for Cam Robinson to fill the void last week. But Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell declined to name Robinson his new starter ahead of Week 9, according to Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Blake Brandel, who won the left guard job after Risner injured his back in training camp, made three starts at left tackle in 2022 with 273 total snaps at the position across five games. He could slide back outside with Risner retaking his spot at left guard, where he started 11 games for Minnesota last year.
“I feel great about having Dalton available,” O’Connell said Friday, per Goessling. “He knows he’s got my confidence and he’ll be ready to go when called upon.”
The Vikings could also call upon veteran David Quessenberry to start at left tackle if they want to maintain their current offensive line unit but don’t feel that Robinson is ready to start.
However, the swift move by Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to acquire Robinson in the wake of Darrisaw’s injury suggests that Minnesota intends to slide him into the starting lineup as quickly as possible. Ideally, he would be a one-for-one replacement for Darrisaw without forcing any other changes across the offensive line.
The Vikings also placed defensive lineman Taki Taimani on injured reserve, opening a roster spot for Risner’s activation. Minnesota also used a standard practice squad elevation on defensive lineman Jalen Redmond for Week 9.