Vikings Shuffled O-Line for ‘Best Option’ without…

O’Neill (right tackle) and Cleveland (left guard) are the mainstays up front, as both players have been on the field for all 842 snaps at their respective positions this season.

The biggest change was Udoh, who was moved from right guard to left tackle, a position he had never played before in an NFL game. Rashod Hill, who started the first five games of the season at left tackle before Darrisaw was healthy, played just three snaps on special teams Sunday.

Udoh was called for a pair of false starts in his debut at left tackle. He had played tackle in college at Elon and then practiced mostly at right tackle as a rookie in 2020 before Minnesota moved him to right guard at the onset of 2021 training camp.

“Yeah, I mean, hat’s off to Oli,” Cole said. “Moving from right guard to left tackle is not easy.

“He held his own out there and did a good job,” Cole added. “There’s always things we can do better, but we just keep battling and taking the punches as we roll.”

Cole was also on the move, as he shifted to right guard after starting the previous four games at center. He took over the spot in the middle after Bradbury was put on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in early November.

Cole had started two career games at guard, but it came on the left side with the Cardinals, and not at right guard. He had played 47 total snaps at right guard before Sunday.

Cole assessed his play in Week 13:

“There’s always a few plays you wish you could have back,” Cole said. “But overall, I think it went well.

“I think I felt more comfortable as the game went on,” Cole added. “It’s a little different, but I’m confident in any three of those interior spots.”