Jesse Davis taking over the starting reps at right guard isn’t the only change the Minnesota Vikings could be seeing along the offensive front in 2022.
Chris Reed, who was originally brought in to compete at right guard, has been working with the second-team unit at center. It could be the first step towards the 30-year-old veteran eventually overtaking starting center Garrett Bradbury on the depth chart.
The Vikings declined Bradbury’s fifth-year option in the offseason and hoped playing in a contract year would ignite a fire under the former first-round draft pick. So far, however, it has been much of the same disappointment for a player that hasn’t lived up to his draft stock.
There have even been points during training camp where he’s been flat-out “run over” by Vikings newcomer Harrison Phillips.
Garrett Bradbury got run over by Harrison Phillips a couple times in 1-on-1 drills today. Phillips is really strong and powerful, but it's concerning that Bradbury's No. 1 issue doesn't seem to have gone away.
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) August 1, 2022
Getting beat by a talented and obviously powerful defensive lineman like Phillips isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s never good to hear about a center getting “run over” multiple times, especially one that has struggled like Bradbury.
Reed’s versatility could earn him a starting job on the offensive front. When speaking with the Pioneer Press’ Chris Tomasson over the spring, he said he was prepared to play at whatever spot the Vikings needed him.
Davis looks to be in the lead for the starting job at right guard, while rookie Ed Ingram waits in the wings for his opportunity. Ezra Cleveland has remained tough at the left guard position, and the Vikings already have a pair of solid tackles in Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw.
An argument could be made that Bradbury at center is the biggest problem along the offensive front right now.
And maybe, just maybe, Reed could be the Vikings’ best in-house option for addressing it.
