Whether it’s this week or next, Elflein’s return will be big boost

It’s hard to know yet whether the Minnesota Vikings will get center Pat Elflein back in time to face the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field or whether he will have to wait another week or two (he was limited in practice Wednesday), but one thing was clear after Week 1: The Vikings are not the same without him.While they came away with a victory and had an overall passable performance by the makeshift offensive line, which featured newcomer Brett Jones at starting center and journeyman backup Tom Compton at left guard, it was evident that there are plenty of areas where Elflein will make an immediate difference.
That starts with the Vikings’ rushing attack. Gifted running back Dalvin Cook gained just 2.5 yards per carry as he was routinely slowed at the line of scrimmage.
Following the game, head coach Mike Zimmer commented on the O-line’s inability to block the San Francisco 49ers’ linebackers.
“Sometimes we didn’t get to the second level,” Zimmer said. “They were lined up a little bit different, the linebacker was shaded a little further away. All those things determine your calls, so when these two guys are trying to get those two guys, if he’s way over here and then he moves on the snap we have to be able to see it a little bit quicker. I thought we had some good runs, but I thought we didn’t get to the linebacker enough.”
Here is one example in which Jones (61) could not reach the linebacker and he was able to shut down Cook...
http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/09/whether-week-next-pat-elfleins-return-will-big-boost-vikings/