The Minnesota Vikings have serious questions to answer on the offensive line going into their Week 5 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. They will be without left guard Donovan Jackson after suffering a torn meniscus against the Miami Dolphins and will also likely be without left tackle Christian Darrisaw, who was hurt in the same game. First, Darrisaw suffered a neck injury that appeared to be a stinger, then developed concussion symptoms

Those injuries will force the Vikings to lean on backups on the left side. The bigger question is who fills Jackson’s spot at guard, as we know that Ryan Van Demark will be the left tackle. Joe Huber is the obvious answer, but Minnesota has more than one path it could take, and that includes the trade market.

Donovan Jackson’s injury leaves a hole on the left side

The Vikings selected Jackson in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft to make the trenches a focus. Guard had been a problem spot for quite some time, and spending a first-round pick on one was a direct way to attack it.

Whether it was the right call to take a guard that early was up for debate, but it had been working through the first four weeks of his second season. Jackson had been moving bodies consistently, especially when Minnesota ran to the left side. He and Darrisaw were doing a phenomenal job together.

Now Jackson is out, and the Vikings are 4-0. That raises a fair question: Will they be comfortable trusting their depth to hold down the position? Kevin O’Connell has a fascinating decision ahead of him.

Joe Huber and the depth behind him

Huber was the one who took over against the Dolphins. He played 71 snaps and allowed only two pressures, and held his own in the run game as well. He got one start last season against the Cleveland Browns, and did a solid job in that game as well.

That performance carries extra weight considering the circumstances. Huber came off the bench, and he did it without Darrisaw next to him for about half of his snaps. That’s not an easy assignment for a backup.

Even if Huber doesn’t get the start, Minnesota has other options. Michael Jurgens was one of two players who had his practice window activated on Monday. He was placed on injured reserve at cutdown day with a back injury. They could also go to Trevor Keegan, who the Vikings claimed after final cuts. He was a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft with center versatility.

Could Minnesota trade for a guard?

There is also the possibility the Vikings go outside the building. General manager Nolan Teasley mentioned after the J.J. McCarthy trade that the team could look to add a guard or another player to bolster the roster. He specifically referenced the pick Minnesota received in the McCarthy deal as a potential trade chip.

“Nothing’s changed. I still believe that he has ability, and that he’s going to have an opportunity to go to New York [Giants] and make a difference,” said Teasley. “We got to the point where the return made sense for us now to get an asset that, in all honesty, is going to help us in the future or it could help us this season. We don’t know. So, to have another asset that can help us continue to build because this season and the roster is going to constantly evolve, and today’s another example of that.”

The problem is the market. Only four weeks into the season, few teams are willing to move a starting-caliber offensive lineman before they’ve been eliminated from contention.

Look around the league and the list gets short quickly. The Los Angeles Rams have Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson, but they believe they can win a Super Bowl and won’t trade either one. Quenton Nelson of the Indianapolis Colts could be an option, though GM Chris Ballard and coach Shane Steichen are fighting for their jobs, which makes the trade more unlikely. New England’s Michael Onwenu suffered a broken leg and will likely miss the rest of the season.

Cody Mauch makes the most sense

The one name that stands out is Tampa Bay Buccaneers right guard Cody Mauch. He’s been a multi-year starter since the Buccaneers selected him 49th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Mauch has played 253 snaps and started all four games this season, allowing 10 pressures and one sack. He’s been up and down as a pass protector, and he missed the majority of the 2025 season with an injury. Even so, he’s a proven starter, which is more than most of the market can offer.

The contract situation works in Minnesota’s favor, too. Mauch is in the final year of his rookie deal, carrying a base salary of $3.674 million. If Tampa Bay moved him, it would get the prorated portion of that money back in salary cap space.

That matters for a team in the Buccaneers’ position. Tampa Bay is 0-4, and quarterback Baker Mayfield is still set to miss multiple games with a dislocated thumb. That combination could make the Bucs open to selling, and it opens the door for the Vikings to land a talented player.

If Minnesota pulls the trigger, there would be a lot more comfort in where the offensive line stands with Jackson sidelined. The price might not be steep, either. Something in the range of a fifth-round pick could get it done. Whether Teasley is willing to make that call with a 4-0 team is the question to watch over the next few days.