Good, bad, weird, or otherwise, the injury issues the Minnesota Vikings have had so far this season are well-documented. In particular, their five projected starting offensive lineman have not played a snap together, and just one (right guard Will Fries) has not missed a game (or multiple games, for that matter).
With center Ryan Kelly on injured reserve after suffering two concussions in quick succession, the Vikings will not have that starting five together anytime soon.
Entering Week 9, according to Next Gen Stats (h/t to Alec Lewis of The Athletic), the Vikings have used a league-high 12 offensive line combinations for at least 12 snaps this season. No single combination has even played 20 percent of the team's offensive snaps together.
At 3-4, the Vikings could be considered a buyer or a seller as next Tuesday's trade deadline fast approaches. The result of Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions may tilt things one way or the other, but they could still occupy both sides of the trade deadline equation depending on specific circumstances.
Minnesota Vikings offered surprising (and perfect) trade deadline fix for foreseeable issue
In his recent look at all 32 teams as the trade deadline nears, Josh Liskiewitz of Pro Football Focus tabbed the Vikings as a buyer.
With a focus on offensive line depth amid the Vikings' persistent injury issues, Liskiewitz dropped the name of a potential trade target.
"The Vikings could also use a versatile interior lineman, which brings the Raiders’ Jackson Powers-Johnson back into focus."
Jackson Powers-Johnson was a second-round pick (44th overall) by the Raiders in 2024. He split time during his rookie season between center and left guard, but he seemed sure to settle in at center this season. During his final season at Oregon, he won the Rimington Trophy, which is given to the top center in the country.
Instead, the Raiders moved guard Jordan Meredith from guard to center during training camp. Dylan Parham was moved from right to left guard, and Powers-Johnson became the starter at right guard.
While a concussion cost him a game early in the season, Pete Carroll and the Raiders coaching staff have kept Powers-Johnson in a flimsy competition with Alex Cappa at right guard. The problem with that is Cappa performed very poorly in his two starts, as expected.
Powers-Johnson has been far better, and any recent struggles he has had can be chalked up to going against two of the best defensive tackles in the league (Jeffery Simmons and Chris Jones).
If there were an opportunity, it feels like the Raiders would trade Powers-Johnson. At one point, he said he didn't know why he was in the situation he's in. He could use, and may even welcome, a change of scenery. And based on what he says he told former Raiders' head coach Antonio Pierce last season, center is the position he prefers to play.
Kelly is under contract for 2026, but it's worth wondering if he will consider retirement due to multiple concussions in recent years. The Vikings can also clear his entire $12.1 million cap hit off their book by cutting him, and that move is in play based on how their 2026 balance sheet looks currently.
A trade for Powers-Johnson would give the Vikings an immediate upgrade at center over Blake Brandel and Michael Jurgens. He would also be a longer-term option there, with two years left on his rookie contract after this year, and Kelly's future is up in the air until shown otherwise.
Independent of whether they see themselves as a trade deadline buyer or seller, the Vikings should make a call to see what it would take to get Powers-Johnson from the Raiders. And if there are other offers to beat, they should willingly usurp them.