Minnesota Vikings: Offensive line remains weakest link on strong roster

The Minnesota Vikings have one of the strongest rosters in the NFL, but there’s still one thing holding them back: The offensive line.

If you watched the Minnesota Vikings‘ second preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday afternoon, you were probably wildly unimpressed. Both teams are known for their stout defense, although Minnesota has the potential to be a top-10 offense this season.

However, the offense neglected to look the part on Saturday, as the Jaguars defense created several problems for Kirk Cousins, who made his Vikings debut at US Bank Stadium. It was a forgetful performance, as Cousins finished only 3-of-8 for only 12 yards.

But most of the blame can’t and shouldn’t fall on Cousins’ shoulders. After all, what’s a man to do when he has less than two seconds before being pressured? Throughout the whole game, there was one positional group that looked to be the obvious weak link on the roster — the offensive line.

A main reason for this is due to the amount of injuries that have stacked up. The Vikings already lost a key component of their O-line earlier this month in Nick Easton, who was slated to start at left guard. Easton was placed on injured reserve after undergoing neck surgery. Right tackles Mike Remmers and Rashod Hill are both dealing with ankle injuries, while center Pat Elflein remains on the PUP, still recovering from a broken ankle.

That’s four starting-caliber linemen who, albeit aren’t necessarily Pro Bowl-caliber players, would easily serve as better protection for Minnesota’s franchise quarterback. Not to mention other depth linemen, Cedrick Lang and Josh Andrews, left Saturday’s game with injuries, as well.

So what are the Vikings’ options moving forward? Both Remmers and Hill are good bets to be ready for Week 1 of the regular season, while left tackle Riley Reiff is a reliable anchor for Cousins’ blind spot.

Second-year pro Aviante Collins looked to be a solid option as a swing tackle against the Jaguars, but surely can’t be counted on when the regular season starts. It seems the Vikings’ front office has work to do — and fast. Perhaps a free agent acquisition, or even a trade, is necessary to improve Minnesota’s chances.