The Vikings’ day on the field is quickly spiraling out of control. Just moments after center Ryan Kelly limped off to the locker room following a brutal hit to the head, another blow struck the team.

Left tackle Justin Skule is now sidelined with an injury of his own, leaving the Vikings reeling. What started as a tough day has turned into a cascade of setbacks. And the storm shows no signs of letting up.

Skule is dealing with a head injury and is questionable to return. With the team mounting (or trying to) a comeback, losing him would be a significant setback at a critical moment.

To make matters worse, Ryan Kelly was checked for a head injury and eventually ruled out — leaving the Vikings with not one, but two starting offensive linemen in concussion protocol by the end of the game. And in what looks like a confirmed loss for the Vikings, Kevin O’Connell would be hoping to forget all about tonight.

And this is a big blow. Justin Skule isn’t some rookie stopgap. A sixth-round pick back in 2019, he logged time with both the 49ers and Buccaneers before landing in Minnesota in March 2025. He had 67 career games and 18 starts under his belt heading into this season.

The Vikings signed Skule as a safety net for Christian Darrisaw, who’s coming off a major ACL/MCL reconstruction in his left knee, and to give them swing-tackle depth behind Brian O’Neill. Him being sidelined has a major impact on the depth.

And with Darrisaw still sidelined, Skule was thrown into the starting left tackle spot. The Vikings’ offseason plan — bringing in Ryan Kelly, adding Will Fries, and drafting Donovan Jackson was built to shore up the interior, not patch holes on the blind side. But Skule and Kelly’s head injuries threw a wrench into those plans.

And Skule’s injury makes an already thin tackle situation even thinner. It might be time for Kevin O’Connell to start ringing the alarm bells. 

The tackle problem gets worse for the Vikings

This is where the Vikings’ depth chart shows some real cracks. The 53-man and camp rosters only list a handful of true tackles. There’s Christian Darrisaw (when he’s healthy), Brian O’Neill, Justin Skule, and Walter Rouse. And, well, a couple of swing guys. This is far from an ideal depth. But with Darrisaw and Skule out, it’s downright concerning.

Yes, the O-line is pretty thin overall. But tackle problems aren’t the same as being thin inside. Tackles have to handle edge speed and keep clean passing lanes for a young QB. So when one goes down (Darrisaw) and the next (Skule) follows, the Vikings are suddenly throwing backup tackles into pressure-packed snaps.

And you could point out the issues in the season opener itself. From a protection standpoint, J.J. McCarthy’s debut was already bumpy — the Week 1 box score against Chicago shows he got sacked three times in his very first start. And doesn’t seem like his troubles are going to vanish anytime soon.

And now, chances are the Vikings dial things back to keep J.J. McCarthy upright — think quicker throws, more running back check-downs, and a tighter pocket. That kind of conservative approach makes sense for protection. But it’s not exactly the dream setup for a rookie who thrives when the play design gives him time to scan and settle.