What to do at Center

[MaroonBells]

With 2 concussions in three weeks and 4 since 2023, we may have a problem with Ryan Kelly. Will he miss the average 9 days in the protocol and come back with a guardian cap? Or will he go on IR to clear his head and miss 4 games? Or will the 32-year-old decide enough's enough and retire? 

I have no clue. But I do know that while Skule and Brandel have been serviceable, Michael Jurgens has not. And this could present a big problem for our young QB when he returns after the bye.  

Unless Kelly retires, I think we'll just keep after it with Jurgens while he's out. But if he does retire, the Vikings may look to trade for a veteran, ala Cam Robinson last year. 

Erik McCoy in New Orleans is a name I see pop up every now and then. He just turned 28, he made the Pro Bowl in each of his last two seasons, and the Saints are winless and have been trying to shed salary since...hell since Brees retired. Looks like there's a shit-ton of dead cap involved though.

[purplefaithful]

Its a really big deal imo whats happened with Kelly (or continues to happen). What he took off JJM's mental plate was huge on top of physical protection.

I suspect he'll go to IR. I would put him on it now to be honest. Whether he comes back is anyones guess.

McCoy would be awesome, but as you say the cap is an issue - as is learning the playbook in the middle of the season.

[JimmyinSD]

I think you stay the course and go into the offseason with a new C at the top of your list, we can likely still target IOL early in the coming draft as we did this past year and be way better for it then sending draft picks for a veteran and further complicating our cap situation for next year.

at some point we need to put it on KAM to learn to draft in order to be able to keep the talent he may find instead of always relying on FA and veteran trades.

[Bunsen82]

He shouldn't have played. Its beyond stupid why they don't take 2 weeks off for a concussion. What are we doing.

[purplefaithful]

He shouldn't have played.  Its beyond stupid why they don't take 2 weeks off for a concussion.  What are we doing.

Yup, with the bye week it would have been ideal...

[Bullazin]

Jurgens is the backup and I guess Brandel is 3rd. Need to roll with the draft pick. He hasn’t looked horrible to me, but I haven’t charted his snaps or anything like that.

If he is bad then need to put brandel in. I wouldn’t trade for a C when we have a draft pick 2nd year player we are trying to develop

[ncvike]

Jurgens has a hamstring issue and I can't pretend to believe we'll be ok with Brandel as center. Backup to Brandel would be our
long snapper.  Ooof