The Vikings traded for OL Mason Cole this offseason, and by Week 9, the team needed him.
Minnesota had to place C Garrett Bradbury on the COVID-19/Reserve list before the Week 9 clash with Baltimore. Minnesota replaced Bradbury in the lineup with Cole. Cole has been in the starting lineup ever since, sticking at center initially even with Bradbury healthy, then moving over to right guard.
Now, Minnesota will be without Cole. The Vikings placed him on IR, which means he will have to miss the rest of the regular season. He could return if Minnesota made the postseason.
Without Cole, the Vikings could simply go back to using RG Oli Udoh. Udoh started out well as the team’s starting right guard. But he committed a league-high 12 penalties and allowed 35 pressures.
That said, if Udoh can return to his level of play against the Cardinals in Week 2, the Vikings wouldn’t take a step back on the interior offensive line. That’s a tall order, though, considering the team plays Rams DT Aaron Donald this week.