He did everything in his power to make it through the game against the Green Bay Packers on New Year’s Eve
Unless the Vikings make the playoffs, right tackle Brian O’Neill won’t play again until next season. After missing practice this week with an ankle injury, O’Neill has officially been ruled out by the Vikings for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.
This is a direct result of O’Neill pushing himself to stay in the game against the Green Bay Packers on New Year’s Eve. Never mind that he was battling an ankle injury as the Vikings were getting smoked in what ended up being a 33-10 loss. No amount of pain was going to be enough for O’Neill to leave the field.
“He very easily could have and nobody would have questioned it,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said. “Just battled through it. He wanted to be out there with his guys regardless of at any point in time of that game what the score was. That’s why he’s our captain.”
Though he tried to get enough treatment to be available, O’Neill will ultimately sit out this weekend.
“He’s a guy I have so much respect for,” O’Connell said. “He came out of that pretty sore from that ankle injury and was just unable to turn over.”
Murphy and Blackmon out
The depth of the secondary will once again be tested when the Vikings play the Lions. After missing practice this week, veteran cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. has been ruled out with a knee injury, and rookie cornerback Mekhi Blackmon has been ruled out with a shoulder injury.
That will put a lot of pressure on cornerbacks Akayleb Evans and Andrew Booth Jr. There’s also a chance safety Cam Bynum and safety Josh Metellus could play out of position as both did at times last week. No matter what, the Vikings will have their hands full against the Lions.
“This is a talented group on offense,” O’Connell said. “We’ve got to be able to schematically run the game the way we think gives us the best chance to defend.”
Nailor struggling with concussion
After suffering a concussion last month, receiver Jalen Nailor is set to miss his fourth straight game. As much as his condition has improved over the past couple of weeks, Nailor still has limited symptoms, and he has not cleared concussion protocol.
“We’re not going to put a player back on the field, in some cases, even if they’re begging and scratching and clawing to get back on the field,” O’Connell said. “Our responsibility is to make sure they’ve been fully medically cleared and that has not happened yet.”
The expectation is that Nailor will make a full recovery and be available next season.
Briefly
The other players who have been ruled out include safety Theo Jackson (toe) and defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy (ankle). Meanwhile, left tackle Christian Darrisaw (illness) and right guard Ed Ingram (shoulder) have been listed as questionable.
