No stranger to injuries through the nine weeks of 2025, the Minnesota Vikings will likely embark on Week 10 without the services of Theo Jackson.
The practice week has started for the Minnesota Vikings, and one particular defender may be a no-go versus the Baltimore Ravens in Week 10.
The veteran safety sustained a concussion in last weekend’s win over the Detroit Lions, an injury all but certain to sideline him for at least one game.
Vikings Safety Theo Jackson Not Practicing
The man probably won’t be involved at home versus Baltimore.
No Practice for Theo Jackson
Star Tribune‘s Emily Leiker wrote Wednesday, “S Theo Jackson, who went in concussion protocol Monday, was in street clothes but with his position group.”
And to start the week, CBS Sports set the table: “Head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters Monday that Jackson is in concussion protocol following Sunday’s 27-24 win over the Lions, Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.”
“Jackson played just 25 total snaps (15 on defense, 10 on special teams) before exiting Sunday’s win, recording two total tackles. The 27-year-old’s practice participation throughout the week should provide the clearest indication of his availability for the Week 10 matchup against the Ravens, though he’ll need to clear the NFL’s five-step concussion protocol in order to suit up.”
Concussion recoveries — especially for the Vikings — rarely come with a six-day turnaround. The league average is nine days.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell said about Jackson this week, “Just an update on Theo Jackson, he came in this morning with just some very mild symptoms. And we want to be safe there. So he’ll go into the cushion concussion protocol, and, you know, we’ll see how he can progress throughout the week.”
Jay Ward as the Next Man Up
If Jackson can’t go — he probably won’t — defensive coordinator Brian Flores will likely tap Ward on the shoulder, who filled in admirably for Harrison Smith to start the season.
Ward has played 61 defensive snaps in eight games, tallying a 72.1 Pro Football Focus score and biding his time for more participation in the defense. In fact, with Smith probably playing his final season in 2025, Ward may be on deck for a starter’s job in 2026 if the rest of this season goes smoothly.
Minnesota often plays a “big nickel” defense, meaning safeties get in on the action more than backup cornerbacks. Ward should see the field substantially on Sunday against the Ravens if Jackson is ruled out.
Jackson’s Season So Far
Speaking of performance, Jackson has played decently in his first season as a starter, logging a 64.5 PFF grade, which is right in the middle of good and subpar. The 27-year-old has notched 31 tackles and a forced fumble through eight games, six of which he has officially started.
Jackson is a better pass-coverage safety than a run-stuffer or a pass rusher. Minnesota must be especially wary on Sunday if Lamar Jackson decides to rear back and throw the rock.
Other Concussion News — but Better
Thankfully, the other bit of concussion news for Minnesota on Wednesday caused enthusiasm. Four-time Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly worked out with trainers, and not long ago, many, including this website, assumed Kelly could be out for the season. Kelly has sustained five concussions in his career — two of them occurring in a three-game span in September.
Due to the risk of repeated brain injuries, Kelly felt like a candidate to miss the rest of the 2025 and possibly retire.
But it appears Kelly hasn’t settled on that judgment yet, working his back to the lineup and possibly getting into the huddle within the next few weeks.
More on Ward
Our Kyle Joudry noted on Ward before the start of the regular season, “If, in the end, Jay Ward proves to be a special teams player and nothing more, then that’s fine. Drafting a defensive back on Day 3 often leads to being a backup on defense and a stalwart on specials.”
“That singular outcome isn’t any reason to get too worked up. The context in Minnesota, however, does make things a bit more discouraging. Currently, the Vikings have just four players on their roster from the sixteen who were drafted in 2022 and 2023: running back Ty Chandler, wide receiver Jalen Nailor, wide receiver Jordan Addison, and safety Jay Ward.”
This Sunday’s game is the perfect opportunity for Ward to seize the day.
“Only Addison could be deemed a really strong pick, though that’s currently muted due to his suspension. There’s then the pretty good result in Nailor ascending to becoming the WR3/4 and the frustrating inability for Chandler to turn abundant talent into proportional impact,” Joudry continued.
“Finally, there’s Mr. Ward. Still under contract for two more seasons, Ward could yet have some ability in his game. Seeing him minimized rather than showcased when the safety room is suddenly thin will tell us a lot about the way things are trending.”
The Vikings are 4.5-point home underdogs in Week 10.
