The Minnesota Vikings just officially put their second-year guard, Donovan Jackson, on injured reserve. This move was a total gut punch, coming after Jackson suffered a meniscus tear in the team’s tight 15-10 win against the Dolphins on Sunday.
The Coach Confirms The Worst For Jackson’s Season
Honestly, the writing was on the wall. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell didn’t mince words on Monday, pretty much telling everyone Jackson’s regular season was toast. You just hate to see it happen to a promising young player.
“Unfortunately Donovan Jackson does have a meniscus tear that will require surgery and likely end his regular season, based upon the timeline,” O’Connell stated in his press conference. “Does indeed look like an injured reserve situation. Very unfortunate.”
Jackson, a former Ohio State standout and the No. 24 overall pick in the 2025 draft, went down in the first quarter. He even got flagged for a hold on the play, and you could see him calling for medical help as he limped off the field. Man, that’s just tough luck all around.
What This Means For The Vikings’ Offensive Line
This is a big hit, no joke. The organization was super hyped about Jackson’s future, especially thinking about him solidifying the left side of their offensive line for years. Now, with him out for the season, they’re leaning hard on second-year undrafted free agent Joe Huber to step up at left guard.
Huber jumped in on Sunday after Jackson’s injury, playing a whopping 71 offensive snaps. But let’s be real, the stats aren’t exactly screaming “future Pro Bowler” right now. He allowed two pressures and clocked a below-average PFF grade. It’s early, sure, but that’s a lot of pressure on an undrafted guy to fill the shoes of a first-round talent.
So, the Vikings have got a real challenge on their hands. Replacing a player they had such high hopes for is never easy, especially mid-season. They’ll need Huber to get up to speed fast, or find another answer if they want to keep their O-line solid. It’s definitely something to keep an eye on as the regular season grinds forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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