Kirk Cousins ​​is now a member of the Atlanta Falcons and there has been a lot of talk about who will replace him as the Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback. But their quarterback selection won’t matter if he can’t stay upright in the pocket.

That task becomes much more difficult for Minnesota after Dalton Risner was placed on the injured list (according to ESPN anchor Adam Schefter). The guard’s injury has not yet been announced, but Risner will now be forced to miss at least the first four games of the season.

The Vikings re-signed Risner after he appeared in 15 games and started 11 times for the team in his debut. He became a key part of the team’s offense by the end of the season, playing every snap from Weeks 15-17. Risner was praised for his pass-blocking skills and earned the respect of Minnesota’s decision-makers.

But at least to start the season, the Vikings will have to look elsewhere. They’re coming off a season in which they ranked seventh with 47 sacks allowed. Without Risner on the field, it will be even harder to lower that number.

The unknown nature of his injury adds a touch of mystery to the party. But ultimately, the Vikings hope Risner won’t be out much longer than the first four weeks of the regular season and can once again be a strong contributor on the offensive line.

Sam Darnold is ready to step in for the Vikings

Whether Dalton Risner is on the field or not, Minnesota’s offensive line will be blocking for veteran quarterback Sam Darnold. Although it looked like he would open the year as QB1 anyway, Darnold’s leash continued to grow as JJ McCarthy suffered a season-ending injury.

Darnold comes to the Vikings with 66 NFL games under his belt. As a starter, he has a 21-35 record with 12,064 yards, 63 touchdowns and 56 interceptions.

Although he didn’t live up to his draft promise, the Vikings trust Darnold to be their bridge quarterback into the McCarthy era. Now he’s simply getting a better chance than expected. If he can lead the Vikings from the center, the perception of Darnold and his career will change.

However, he can’t do much if he keeps taking sack after sack. The Vikings need to strengthen their offensive line after Risner’s injury. With McCarthy already out for the year and Risner now out for the start of the season, Minnesota can’t afford any more injuries.