Going into the Wild Card matchup against the New York Giants, the Minnesota Vikings will have to start a backup at right tackle for Brian O’Neill.
Leading into Sunday, Oli Udoh was expected to be that guy. It will likely be Blake Brandel, who the Vikings activated from injured reserve on Saturday afternoon. Even so, don’t be surprised if head coach Kevin O’Connell decides to rotates them out.
If Udoh does get extensive play, there is reason to believe he can play well on the outside.
In limited reps, Udoh has only allowed four total pressures on 154 pass-blocking snaps. That is an efficiency rate of 97.4%
Oli Udoh pass blocking at RT
2019 preseason (4 games)
74.6 grade
1 hit, 1 hurry on 53 pass block snaps2019, week 17
79.7
0 pressures on 152022 preseason vs DEN
76.4
0 pressures on 192022, weeks 17-18
78.8
2 hurries on 67Totals: 1 hit, 3 hurries on 154 pass block snaps
— Krauser (@Krauserrific) January 15, 2023
It’s never an ideal scenario to have your backup tackle start a playoff game, but the Vikings will be in good hands with Udoh.
