The Minnesota Vikings losing left guard Donovan Jackson to a torn meniscus was brutal for a multitude of reasons. He was thriving at left guard next to Christian Darrisaw, especially in the running game. They were moving bodies in all phases, and losing out on that could be very impactful moving forward.

They are going to give Joe Huber a chance at left guard, and it’s well deserved after a great performance in relief of Jackson on Sunday.

“I thought Joe [Huber] stepped in. Joe’s a good young player that we’ve been really excited about since we first brought him on as an undrafted free agent last year,” said head coach Kevin O’Connell during Monday’s press conference. “He’s been able to be versatile to have a game-day role at three spots when called upon. It happened to be left guard yesterday. I thought he had some really good snaps. He’s physical. He’s a smart player, has spent a lot of time really diving in, working. Whether it’s been with Blake [Brandel] or his reps he’s taken at center, I think it has opened up his viewpoint and his ability to impact at whatever position he stepped in at. It’s definitely going to be something we’ve got to work through.”

Cody Mauch is an interesting trade candidate

If Huber doesn’t work out or they would prefer for him to be the first man off the bench, a trade for a starting guard. With Teasley mentioning the idea of a trade, there aren’t a lot of teams who would be willing to trade a starting offensive lineman this early in the season. However, there are a few 0-4 teams, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a young guard on an expiring contract in Cody Mauch.

Could the Bucs actually trade him? I spoke to our beat writer Evan Winter about where things sit with him and the team.

“Cody Mauch is in a very interesting spot after four games into the final year of the rookie contract he signed when he was drafted back in 2023.

He still has the athleticism, the power and just overall tenacity that helped make him a rising guard in the league before his devastating 2025 injury, but for whatever reason, he just hasn’t put it all back together in 2026. Part of that could be the guys around him, and that certainly is part of the situation to a certain degree. However, at the same time, Mauch has had his own struggles, especially when it comes to passing off twists, stunts, and just dealing overall with more powerful rushers.

Despite that, Mauch still has a high ceiling. He’s entering his prime and could be a potential tradable asset. Even though I don’t think the Buccaneers would let him go, they don’t have a lot of depth along the interior of the offensive line, and to trade someone like him would represent waving the white flag on the 2026 season and potentially even the short-term future.

Regardless, for the spirit of this conversation, if the Buccaneers were to move on for Cody Malc, I think you could get him for pretty cheap. You could get him probably for an early day three pick. Round four would make a lot of sense, and then obviously you’d have to pay him afterward. But if for whatever reason he continues to struggle, then you’ve only invested a day three pick for a guy who could be the potential starting guard for your team down the line.”

The analysis from Winter sounds pretty straightforward: it’s not likely, but never say never. A couple more losses by the Buccaneers, which isn’t the most unlikely scenario with Jalon Daniels as the guy until Baker Mayfield is healed from his dislocated thumb.

Don’t discount general manager Nolan Teasley from making a big move, but he may have to make it elsewhere.