The Ed Ingram vs. Dalton Risner Debate

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports Most of the players on the Minnesota Vikings roster are enjoying a good season so far. One particular guy is not, which is leading to the Ed Ingram vs. Dalton Risner debate. Ingram is having a rough time out there and with Risner looking set to return from injury, the position of right guard is the topic of discussion. The Ed Ingram vs. Dalton Risner Debate Ingram has been the Vikings’ starter at right guard ever since he was drafted in the second round in 2022. With that high draft capital invested in him, he has been given every chance to make that job his own. Ingram struggled from the start and 38 games into his career there has been no major improvement and calls for his replacement have been a constant. Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports. Through the first six games of the season, Ingram has allowed 18 pressures and 4 sacks, which is just too many. Add in three penalties over the last two games and the leeway around Ingram has to be short. Pro Football Focus grades Ingram at 48.3, with a pass blocking grade of 35.8. Those numbers are down on the already low grades he got in his first two seasons. Ingram isn’t bad on every play but when it’s bad, it’s really bad. The sight of Ingram being pushed back into his QB is an all too familiar sight. There was another instance last week when Alim McNeill put Ingram flat on his back at the feet of Sam Darnold. Risner’s Return Last season, Risner replaced Ezra Cleveland – who was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars – as the left guard. Risner didn’t allow a single sack last season, a stat that certainly stands out. However, his pass-blocking was far from perfect and he did allow 30 pressures. The main knock against Risner is he’s not a great run-blocker. Last season Risner’s pass-blocking grade of 67.4 was comfortably the best of any Vikings interior linemen. His run-blocking grade of 50.0 was comfortably the worst. Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports This week Risner is logging full practices on the injury report and appears set to return from the back injury that saw him on IR to start the season. Risner has played on the left in his previous five NFL seasons with the Broncos and Vikings. He worked at RG in camp this year with Blake Brandel seemingly always favored to be the LG. There are subtle differences to which side of the line a player lines up but it shouldn’t be a problem for a veteran who was competing for that spot before injury struck. Who Starts Against The Rams? I have always believed that Risner won’t jump straight into the starting lineup and stand by that assertion. He will hopefully be activated to the roster before the Rams game and suit up on Thursday night. However, I still think Ingram starts with the Vikings coaches not viewing Ingram as lowly as the fans do. The Vikings offense doesn’t feel like its firing on all cylinders at the moment and one of the problems is the iOL. Is Risner a certainty to fix that problem? I don’t think so. Is a fully healthy Risner better than Ingram? Yes. Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports. If Ingram struggles badly against the Rams or any future games the Vikings now have Risner ready to step in. Should that happen it will likely be the end for Ingram – barring injuries – whose rookie contract finishes at the end of next season. I expect Ingram to get one last chance but it’s a matter of time before Risner steps in. I predict Risner starts in Week 9 when the Vikings host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football.