5 Bold Predictions: Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Chargers – Week 3

Prediction No. 2

Dalton Risner will not play against the Chargers

While Cam Akers’s arrival was met with a shoulder shrug, Dalton Risner received a hero’s welcome as a potential savior in the trenches. The offensive line has been battered by injuries to Garrett Bradbury and Christian Darrisaw over the first two weeks and has also been plagued by ineffectiveness, as Ed Ingram has seven pressures through two games.

Risner should be an upgrade at guard after allowing under 30 quarterback pressures in each of his first three NFL seasons, but it might not be realistic to expect him to play right away.

In an interview with local media on Tuesday, Risner revealed that the Vikings had not discussed whether he would play left guard or right guard, and he also admitted that he wasn’t even sure which way he’s supposed to go on certain plays.

The fact that neither has been discussed indicates Minnesota would like to observe before sticking Risner in the lineup. While Vikings fans would point the finger at Ed Ingram, Sunday’s game could be a last-ditch effort for him to save his job or lose his job to Risner.

Either way, Minnesota probably didn’t pay Risner $4 million to sit on the bench, but it might take some time for that investment to pay itself off.