Jayden Daniels Secures 2023 Heisman Trophy; Vikings’ Right Tackle Brian O’Neill Sustains Injury in First Half Against Raiders.
The first half of today’s game against the Raiders in Vegas brought unfortunate news for the Minnesota Vikings as their right tackle, Brian O’Neill, had to be assisted off the field by trainers.
The afternoon took a difficult turn for Minnesota, with Justin Jefferson also getting injured in his return to action, currently listed as questionable with a chest injury. Adding to the woes, O’Neill appears to have suffered a significant injury. Despite these setbacks, the game remains tied at 0-0 at halftime.
Update: O’Neill is questionable to return due to an ankle injury, and Jefferson has been ruled out for the remainder of the game.
The Raiders, with four sacks in the first half, posed a considerable challenge. All-Pro defensive end Maxx Crosby secured two of these sacks, dominating O’Neill on his first and then chasing down Josh Dobbs for his second. O’Neill’s lower-body injury occurred in the final minutes of the second quarter, leaving him on the ground after the play.
Trainers helped O’Neill to his feet, and he limped off the field, joining Jefferson in the locker room for evaluation. The situation looks concerning.
O’Neill, a Pro Bowler in 2021 and one of the highest-paid and highest-graded right tackles in the league, had previously missed the last two games of the 2022 regular season and the Vikings’ first-round playoff loss due to an Achilles injury. Despite struggling against the Bears a few weeks ago, he had been performing at his usual high level this season before facing challenges from Crosby in the first half.
