Ryan Kelly back at practice. To wear a Guardian Cap going forward.

badgervike wrote:
Kelly back at practice with 21 day window open.

Not going to lie.  I'm a little torn on this one.  He's a family guy.   At least he's going to wear the Guardian cap.

https://vikingsterritory.com/2025/news/top_news/bold-ryan-kelly-vikings

Agreed. We need him, but not more than he needs his life beyond football.

Hopefully, he and the medical staff have this figured out. The CTE tragedies are always brutal, and exponentially worse when it's your guys.

I'm torn to Badger, probably for the same reasons u are.

I think he'd be insane not to play with the cap given his history.

I'm not really torn at all. We need Kelly. Is he endangering his long term health? Yes. Is he putting his post-football quality of life at risk? Yes. But this is not our decision, nor is it the team's decision. This is 100% between Kelly, his family and his doctors. And I respect whatever decision they make together. And I would say that if he chose to retire too. 

I am relieved he's going to wear a guardian cap though. Studies and data show that their use in training camp and practices have reduced practice concussions by over 50%. But in-game concussion data are not as conclusive. I think if everyone wore them in games you'd get better results. And you might take the aesthetic stigma out of it as well. 

Speaking of helmets, I noticed Brandel has this big extra section on the front of his helmet that other players' helmets don't have. 

I believe Darrisaw wears the same type of helmet.

Greylock wrote:
I believe Darrisaw wears the same type of helmet.

Looks like the linemen are starting to understand the consequences of CTE

He is making the decision, right or wrong to play. I do think the team should consider a plan b if needed