Vikings to be without starting offensive lineman vs. Ravens on Sunday

Minnesota Vikings center Garrett Bradbury was placed on the team’s Reserve/COVID-19 list on Thursday and the team has already ruled him out against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

Taking on a 5-2 Baltimore Ravens team was already going to be difficult for the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. But now the Vikings will have to attempt to get a road win over the Ravens without their starting center, Garrett Bradbury, out on the field.

On Thursday, Minnesota announced that Bradbury had been added to the team’s Reserve/COVID-19 list. The Vikings offensive lineman is vaccinated, so the reason for his placement on the list is due to a positive test.

Since Bradbury is vaccinated, he can return from quarantine if he is asymptomatic and he provides two negative tests at least 24 hours apart. Unfortunately, the timing of this will not allow him to take part in Minnesota’s Week 9 matchup in Baltimore on Sunday according to the Star Tribune’s Andrew Krammer.

Who will replace Garrett Bradbury at center for the Minnesota Vikings in Week 9 vs. the Baltimore Ravens?

Currently behind Bradbury on the Vikings’ depth chart is Mason Cole, a center the team acquired in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals earlier this year.

Cole started 14 games for the Cardinals last season and he ranked 35th out of 38 qualifying centers in pass-blocking grade by PFF.

So while some might be happy to see someone else get a shot at center for Minnesota this week, Cole likely isn’t going to prove that he’s a better starting option than Bradbury.

It will certainly be interesting to see if there is any difference in the Vikings’ interior blocking abilities on Sunday. It can’t really get much worse than it already has been this season, can it?