Vikings’ starting offensive line finally plays together — for three quarters — in Green Bay

GREEN BAY, WIS. – Three quarters.

That’s how long the Vikings starting offensive line — left tackle Christian Darrisaw, left guard Donovan Jackson, center Ryan Kelly, right guard Will Fries and right tackle Brian O’Neill — played together this season before more injuries struck the group during Sunday’s 23-6 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Quarterback J.J. McCarthy struggled to stay clean behind the group when facing Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons, who had two of Green Bay’s five sacks.

Parsons inadvertently injured Jackson, a rookie first-round pick, when he beat Darrisaw during a third-quarter pass rush. As Parsons wrapped his arms around McCarthy’s back, he swung into the back of Jackson’s legs.

Jackson did not play in the fourth quarter. He underwent X-rays that showed “nothing is broken” with his ankle, Jackson told the Minnesota Star Tribune, but he will undergo further testing.

“I couldn’t put much pressure or weight on it,” Jackson said. “Couldn’t go out and perform the way I needed to, couldn’t anchor. But I’ll have time to make sure it gets right.”

Darrisaw also exited in the fourth quarter with a foot injury. He declined comment.

“There was a little nervousness when I got out there,” Kelly said. “Six weeks or whatever it was kind of felt like an eternity. But once you get through warmups, it’s the same thing you’ve been doing for a long time.”

Parsons also set up a sack by Packers defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt when he bulldozed Kelly, who said he got “tripped up” on the play, and forced McCarthy to step up into Wyatt.

Four of the Packers’ five sacks came while the Vikings’ starting offensive linemen were still in the game. They got another sack on McCarthy when left tackle Justin Skule and guard Blake Brandel replaced Darrisaw and Jackson.

Coach Kevin O’Connell said calling plays with additional help in pass protection didn’t always produce better results.

“Are we using that help?” O’Connell said. “When you’re down points, that call sheet can shrink in a hurry. We’ve experienced it at times this year with guys having to step in ... and we didn’t handle it well today whatsoever.”

“It’s probably the worst part about the game,” Brandel said. “It’s tough. We’re obviously not where we want to be with the season.”

The memory of Alvin Jones Sr., running back Aaron Jones Sr.’s father, is reinvigorated whenever Jones returns to Lambeau Field, which he called home for his first seven NFL seasons from 2017 through 2023.

“This is the last place he’d seen me play ball,” said Jones, whose father passed away in 2021 because of complications from COVID-19. “It’s special when I get to play here. I feel him all the time when I’m here.”

Jones finished with 12 touches for 57 yards from scrimmage during his second trip wearing purple in Green Bay. He said Packers fans still showed him love.

“The fans here in this community, they’re special as well,” said Jones, a 2020 Pro Bowl pick for Green Bay. “Just the love and support they continue to show me, I want to thank them for that. It doesn’t go unnoticed.”

Linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. said he was directed by a coach to run off the field before Packers kicker Brandon McManus’ 32-yard field goal late in the second quarter. Before Pace made it to the sideline, someone on the Vikings’ side called a timeout, even though they weren’t at risk of a penalty.

“I don’t know why,” Pace said. “Somebody said it was 12 on the field, but I counted and it was only 11 of us.”

Packers running back Emanuel Wilson took 28 carries for a career-high 107 rushing yards and two touchdowns, marking the second time the Vikings gave up a career-high output to a No. 2 back this season. Pittsburgh’s Kenneth Gainwell also did it in Week 4. Packers starting running back Josh Jacobs did not play because of a knee injury.

“He’s a tough back,” safety Josh Metellus said of Wilson. “When you’re behind a guy like Josh Jacobs, you could tell he had a chip on his shoulder. He was running the ball hard.”

Metellus said he expects to be fine after undergoing two medical evaluations in the sideline tent, including for a shoulder injury.