Welcome to the beginning of our 2023 season preview content!
Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at each player on the roster in-depth with backgrounds and how they currently project forward on the Minnesota Vikings roster.
What is the best-case scenario? What is the worst-case scenario? What should we expect from them during the preseason and beyond? We will break all of that down here.
As a staff, all of us at Vikings Wire ranked the entire 90-man roster 1-90 and will be releasing player profiles in reverse order.
Background
Name: Brian O’Neill
Rank: 4
Height: 6’7″
Weight: 310 lbs
Experience: 6th year
College: Notre Dame
Stats (In NFL): 79 games played, 76 starts
Votes:
Tyler Forness: 4
Kevin Fielder: 6
Judd Zulgad: 5
Saivion Mixson: 4
Average: 4.75
Best case scenario
O’Neill continues his exemplary career and continues to be a stalwart to great right tackle.
Ever since he joined the Vikings as a rookie in 2018, O’Neill has been a good to great right tackle. He took over for Rashod Hill in week two at Lambeau Field and hasn’t relinquished the job since. A great athlete, O’Neill thrives in blocking speed rushers with enough of an anchor to stop power rushers attacking him.
Worst case scenario
His partially torn Achilles tendon hinders his effectiveness.
Achilles tendon injuries are notoriously difficult to come back from, especially when you are a player like O’Neill who relies on being explosive out of his stance. The two things he has going for him are his age (turns 28 on September 15th) and that the tendon was only partially torn. That likely means his explosiveness will return faster than it would if it were fully torn.
What to expect in 2023
Expect O’Neill to show some struggles early due to the injury, but he should be in full form by week five or six. He is a cornerstone player for the Vikings franchise and should be for the next 5-6 years, if not longer due to his age.
Previous player profiles
90-Garett Maag
89-Jack Podlesny
88-Zach Ojile
87-NaJee Thompson
86-Thayer Thomas
85-Sam Schluter
84-Jaelyn Williams
83-Jacky Chen
82-Cephus Johnson III
81-C.J. Coldon Jr.
80-Junior Aho
79-Malik Knowles
78-Abraham Beauplan
77-Wilson Huber
76-Lucky Jackson
75-Andre Carter II
74-Curtis Weaver
73-T.J. Smith
72-Alan Ali
71-Josh Sokol
70-Blake Proehl
69-John Reid
68-Trishton Jackson
67-Kalon Barnes
66-Benton Whitley
65-Calvin Avery
64-Theo Jackson
63-William Kwenkeu
62-Sheldon Day
61-Tay Gowan
60-Ross Blacklock
59-Vederian Lowe
58-Jaren Hall
57-Nick Muse
56-Ivan Pace, Jr
55-Jalen Reagor
54-Luiji Vilain
53-Austin Schlottmann
52-Troy Dye
51-Olisaemeka Udoh
50-Nick Mullens
49-Kene Nwangwu
48-DeWayne McBride
47-Jaquelin Roy
46-Jay Ward
45-Brandon Powell
44-Troy Reeder
43-James Lynch
42-Greg Joseph
41-Johnny Mundt
40-Blake Brandel
39-Mekhi Blackmon
38-Chris Reed
37-Joejuan Williams
36-Ryan Wright
35-Esezi Otomewo
34-Jalen Nailor
33-Ty Chandler
32-Jonathan Bullard
31-D.J. Wonnum
30-Patrick Jones II
29-Andrew DePaola
28-Ed Ingram
27-Lewis Cine
26-Garrett Bradbury
25-C.J. Ham
24-Josh Metellus
23-Andrew Booth Jr.
22-Akayleb Evans
21-Jordan Hicks
20-Camryn Bynum
19-Khyiris Tonga
18-Dean Lowry
17-Brian Asamoah
16-Alexander Mattison
15-Jordan Addison
14-Josh Oliver
13-Ezra Cleveland
12-K.J. Osborn
11-Harrison Phillips
10-Marcus Davenport
9-Byron Murphy Jr.
8-Ben Sims
7-Kirk Cousins
6-T.J. Hockenson
5-Harrison Smith
