Latest NFL news potentially made Minnesota Vikings first game after the bye a lot easier

This could end up being massive for a Minnesota Vikings victory

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Oct 5, 2025; Tottenham, United Kingdom; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell walks on the field after their win against the Cleveland Browns in an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings are taking their bye week to get multiple things accomplished. Head coach Kevin O’Connell is looking for a team identity after dealing with a multitude of injuries across the first five games.

The biggest factor in the first five games was the offensive line’s injuries. The projected starting five has yet to play a snap together, with left tackle Christian Darrisaw missing the first two games and center Ryan Kelly, left guard Donovan Jackson, and right tackle Brian O’Neill missing at least a game since he returned against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Not having their offensive line has been a major reason why they lead the league with 21 sacks allowed. Their matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles coming out of the bye week potentially got a little bit easier.

Vikings may avoid seeing Jalen Carter

Going into the game on Thursday night, the Eagles had a late scratch in defensive tackle Jalen Carter. He was added to the injury report on Wednesday due to a heel injury.

Carter has been dealing with the injury for a while, and the Eagles chose to rest him. The third-year All-Pro has been a force on the interior for the Eagles since they selected him at ninth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Without him, the Eagles’ defense struggled mightily against the New York Giants, losing 34-17. It was a rough game, as they allowed rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart to throw for 195 yards and rush for 58 more with two touchdowns. The Giants also got a whopping 172 yards on the ground, which was a big factor in the offense sustaining drives.

If this injury persists, which is certainly possible as foot injuries can often linger on defensive linemen, it could be huge for the Vikings. With the uncertainties on the offensive line and with J.J. McCarthy likely returning at quarterback, the Vikings could use that advantage.

A lot can change for the Eagles and the Vikings, but you could make a strong argument that Minnesota is getting them at the right time after Philadelphia has lost two consecutive games.

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