It's hard to remember the last time the Minnesota Vikings devoted as many resources to the interior offensive line as they did during the offseason. The "poison pill" contract for guard Steve Hutchinson in 2006 easily comes to mind, but that was one player compared to two free agent signings (center Ryan Kelly and guard Will Fries) and a first-round pick (guard Donovan Jackson) to fortify the situation heading into this season.
Left tackle Christian Darrisaw missed the first two games of the season as he completed his recovery from a torn ACL. Subsequent injuries have kept the Vikings from having their projected starting offensive line together for a single snap through four games.
Kelly (concussion) and right tackle Brian O'Neill (sprained MCL) joined the already sidelined Jackson with injuries against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4. The ideal configuration of the offensive line is not coming until, at least, after the bye week, and the Vikings are in line to have their fourth different starting combination when they take on the Cleveland Browns in Week 5.
While it wasn't entirely the injury-depleted offensive line's fault (PFF credited the unit with only two sacks), Carson Wentz took six sacks against the Steelers in Week 4. Overall, and not surprisingly at all, the Vikings have allowed a league-high 18 sacks so far this season.
Before being stifled by the Detroit Lions' offensive line in Week 4, the Browns had 11 sacks over their first three games this season. The current state of the Vikings' offensive line is not on par with Detroit's front, so that Wentz could be under siege again (self-induced or otherwise).
A historical stat is extremely bad news for the Minnesota Vikings' 2025 outlook
Phil Mackey of SKOR North, using Pro Football Reference's Stathead function, shared a startling sack rate stat involving the Vikings up to this point this season.
The Minnesota Vikings are taking sacks at a near-historic rate this season.
— Phil Mackey 🎙 (@PhilMackey) September 29, 2025
Since 1990, only two offenses have taken more sacks-per-attempt than the 2025 Vikings...
As you can see, it's almost impossible to finish with a winning record when taking sacks at a 12-14% rate. pic.twitter.com/9gh0d1R95A
There is one caveat to cling to here, and it's obvious. The other teams on that list of teams allowing a sack rate between 12 and 14 percent were over a full season, while it's only a four-game sample for the Vikings so far this season. But just one of the other nine teams that allowed sacks at or near the rate they have thus far finished above .500 in the respective season.
Sacks, as often reflected by the eye test (see Wentz in Week 4) and deeper numbers, the analytic-driven outlets like the PFF chart, are not strictly an offensive line stat/problem. But there's no doubt the Vikings have to get the current rate they're ceding sacks at corrected, however they can. If they can't, history says this could become a losing season in fairly ugly-looking fashion.