Christian Darrisaw Update Is Exactly What Vikings Needed
Minnesota Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw tore his ACL in a game at the Los Angeles Rams last October, canceling his 2024 campaign and creating an unknown timeline to return.
Christian Darrisaw’s latest update brings a wave of optimism to the Vikings, trending toward a positive development for the offensive line heading into 2025.
But the summer of 2025 has provided mostly smiles on Darrisaw’s ACL recovery — so much so that he ran with first-teamers on Wednesday in Vikings’ joint practices against the New England Patriots.
The man, indeed, may be ready for Week 1 in 3.5 weeks.
Get Your Week 1 Hopes Up for Christian Darrisaw
Darrisaw is trending in the right direction, and joint practices are evidence.
Christian Darrisaw Rolling with First-Teamers at Joint Practices
Minnesota kicked off joint practices this week with New England, and in 11-on-11 drills, Darrisaw filled his proper spot with first-teamers. He wouldn’t do that if an IR or PUP trip were around the bend.
The Vikings and Patriots will scrimmage again Thursday before Saturday’s preseason game, an event where head coach Kevin O’Connell will likely rest all starters, his modus operandi. The short takeaway from joint practices regarding Darrisaw is this: if the man rolled with starters, even for just a little bit, there’s clear evidence that he’ll be ready for Week 1.
The Week 1 Momentum Builds
And don’t take the tape as standalone evidence. Every step of the way this spring and summer, Darrisaw has expedited his recovery timeline while balancing the best prognosis for his return. He and the team have not rushed him back. But they haven’t delayed the comeback, either, or proceeded overly gingerly.
Star Tribune‘s Ben Goessling said this week that “things are trending upward” for Darrisaw’s Week 1 return.
“I would bet he plays in the opener … I think that’s kind of where things are trending,” Goessling opined.
“I think Darrisaw, the way he has come along, and the way I’ve heard people talk about him. I think I’ve heard enough to be optimistic about where that goes. I think that’s kind of where things are trending.”
Darrisaw set the tone back in June when he somewhat surprisingly trotted onto the practice field for mandatory minicamp. At the time, most fans assumed through cynicism that the franchise cornerstone left tackle might miss all of September, at best.
Vital for J.J. McCarthy
The Vikings employ a quarterback with zilch regular season experience. The man has a few preseason drives under his belt, and then that’s it.
He’s J.J. McCarthy, who will take the reins of the whole damn enterprise at QB1 in 2025. It’s just better for everyone, McCarthy especially, if he has his version of the Secret Service for all 17 games in 2025. McCarthy will already be without Jordan Addison’s services for three games to start the 2025 season, and no Darrisaw would teeter on Vikings-lite for McCarthy’s first month as a pro.
Thankfully, Darrisaw appears to be on track for Week 1 at Soldier Field.
The Justin Skule Contingency Plan
If not — if everyone has misjudged the Darrisaw recovery — Minnesota would turn to tackle Justin Skule, whom it signed in March from free agency.
Skule banked a commendable 69.2 Pro Football Focus grade last year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while playing over 350 snaps at offensive tackle. He’s quite efficient.
If anything happened to Brian O’Neill or if Darrisaw is not ready in September, Skule and his dependable resume would be thrust into action. There are worse contingency plans.
Vikings.com on Darrisaw
Lindsey Young of Vikings.com noted on Darrisaw this week, “Christian Darrisaw is just happy to be back playing football. Chatting with reporters Wednesday following Minnesota’s joint practice with New England, Darrisaw said it’s ‘just like riding a bike’ to be playing the sport he loves.”
“The Vikings left tackle has been rehabbing from a torn ACL suffered Week 8 of last season and confidently following a plan that’s included rotating into some team drills. On the reps Darrisaw rests, Justin Skule steps in. The Vikings offense saw some ups and downs during team periods against the Patriots defense — and the downs are no reason to panic, Darrisaw noted.”
Darrisaw has 25 days to be ready for Week 1 — that showdown in Chicago against the Bears.
“It’s all about ironing out the wrinkles before things count. Entering his fifth season in Purple, Darrisaw embraces his role as a vet on the offense and readily does whatever possible to support younger players that include QB J.J. McCarthy and 2025 first-round pick Donovan Jackson,” Young added.
“Darrisaw will just keep taking things a day at a time. For right now? He’s feeling great.”
The summer is reaching the point where it would be weird if Darrisaw were not ready for the season opener on September 8th. And if Darrisaw plays an entire season, perhaps he can grab his Pro Bowl flowers that have curiously eluded him through four NFL seasons.
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