Minnesota Vikings star Brain O’Neill exited Monday’s Wild Card game after suffering a sickening blow to the head.
The Vikings’ Wild Card matchup against the Los Angeles Rams went from bad to worse in the fourth quarter when the starting tackle was forced off the field with a brutal head injury.
The offensive tackle’s head collided with the helmet of Rams defensive lineman Jared Verse as Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold scrambled for a first down.
After the brutal collision, O’Neill hit the turf and remained on the ground before Vikings trainers rushed onto the field to examine him.
The right tackle was helped to the medical tent before heading to the locker room under his own power to be evaluated for concussion.
David Quessenberry came in at right tackle for the Vikings, who trailed the Rams 27-9 at the time of O’Neill’s injury.
Brian O’Neill exited Monday’s Wild Card game after suffering a sickening blow to the head
The Vikings tackle’s head collided with the helmet of Rams defensive lineman Jared Verse
After the brutal collision, O’Neill hit the turf and remained on the ground
O’Neill’s exit was just another blow on a nightmare evening for Kevin O’Connell’s team, who struggled to find the end zone and could barely contain the Rams’ offensive attacks.
At the end of the second quarter alone, the Rams had already tallied six sacks, two turnovers, and a fumble recovery.
And it was Verse who helped contribute to the dominant performance, helping to extend the score in the first half.
LA cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon stripped Darnold, allowing Verse to scoop and score. The Former Florida State star defensive end took it all the way to the house, flipping into the end zone and enabling the Rams to enter the third quarter with a 24-3 lead.
The Vikings managed to claw the score to 27-9 in the third quarter, but Minnesota’s hopes of miracle comeback look to be all but over.
The Rams will progress to the NFC Divisional round where the Philadelphia Eagles lie in wait.
Los Angeles will take on the No. 2-seeded Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field Sunday at 3pm ET.
