A loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday in Dublin, Ireland, with a couple of injuries added to the ongoing issues along the offensive line, has the Minnesota Vikings reeling as they head toward London to complete their overseas back-to-back against the Cleveland Browns in Week 5/.
The injury news is not lining up very well for the aforementioned offensive line, with right tackle Brian O'Neill dealing with an MCL injury and center Ryan Kelly headed into concussion protocol for the second time so far this season.
In terms of when a currently injured Viking could return to action, quarterback J.J. McCarthy is the obvious headliner right now. But there is someone who could return sooner than McCarthy is expected to, and he is also an important player.
The Minnesota Vikings will welcome a veteran leader back with open arms as his IR stint winds down
When Week 4 of the 2025 NFL schedule is over, players who started the season on IR will be eligible to return. Among the notable players who fit that bill around the league, as shared by ESPN's Adam Schefter, is Vikings fullback C.J. Ham.
Players who started season on IR and are eligible to return after Week 4:
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 29, 2025
🏈Titans RB Tyjae Spears
🏈Panthers WR Jalen Coker
🏈Cowboys WR Jonathan Mingo
🏈Bills CB Maxwell Hairston
🏈Browns WR David Bell
🏈Packers RB MarShawn Lloyd
🏈Dolphins K Jason Sanders
🏈Vikings FB C.J.…
Ham landed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2017, which makes him the second-longest tenured player on the team. He has kept the fullback position alive in the Vikings' offense (262 snaps last season), while being proficient with the touches he gets, and he has been a core special teamer since he arrived. The games he has missed to start his season were the first games he has missed since the 2020 season.
The exact injury that landed Ham on IR at roster cuts in late-August has never been disclosed. He was on the injury report late last season with an ankle injury, but he did not miss any time, and surgery in February makes it unlikely he was still dealing with that specific injury. It was also assumed not to necessarily be a season-threatening issue, since a different timing of placing him on IR would have ended his season before it started if it was deemed necessary.
In any case, whether he can come off IR and play in Week 5 against the Browns or if he's able to return after the bye week, the Vikings will welcome Ham's veteran presence back with open arms.