Young Vikings starter's job for 2024 is apparently in jeopardy

Ed Ingram has been the starting right guard for the Minnesota Vikings ever since he appeared in his very first NFL game back in Week 1 of the 2022 season. Since then, Ingram has started a total of 33 games, including the playoffs, at right guard for the Vikings.

Most have assumed he'll continue his role as Minnesota's starting right guard when the 2024 season begins in September.

However, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell recently revealed something that indicates Ingram's job in the starting lineup isn't as safe as some might believe.

Dalton Risner to compete for both Minnesota Vikings starting guard spots

During a recent interview on "The Rich Eisen Show", O'Connell answered a number of Vikings-related questions and provided insight about some of the things that have been going on with the team during the last few weeks.

At one point in the interview, Minnesota's head coach was speaking about the recently re-signed Dalton Risner and how the veteran offensive lineman is "going to compete like crazy at the guard spot with both Ed [Ingram] and Blake Brandel."

Most have already assumed that Risner would be competing with Brandel this summer for the starting left guard job. But O'Connell definitely broke some news when he mentioned that Risner will also be competing for Ingram's starting spot at right guard.

Risner has started 73 games in his NFL career with the Vikings and Denver Broncos and he lined up at left guard in all of them. So, switching over to right guard and beating out Ingram might actually be easier said than done for the veteran offensive lineman.

Possibly surprising to some, Ingram finished with a better offensive grade from PFF than Risner last season. Both were fairly average grades (59.5 for Ingram and 57.1 for Risner), but Risner was a much better pass-blocker than Ingram in 2023.

In 12 games last season, Risner didn't give up a single sack, and he allowed a pressure on 6.2 percent of Minnesota's dropbacks when he was on the field. As for Ingram, in 15 matchups, he gave up five sacks, and he allowed a pressure during 6.6 percent of the Vikings' dropbacks when he was lined up at right guard.

Ingram definitely made some progress in 2023 after an underwhelming rookie season in 2022. But has his development continued to move forward this offseason, and if so, has he improved enough to keep his job as Minnesota's starting right guard?

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