2 Key Vikings Trend in the Right Direction
If you think offensive tackles matter — you should — the Minnesota Vikings offered a bit of good news late last week regarding Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill.
The momentum for the Minnesota Vikings is rather low after Week 8, but the good news is that two key players appear to be in a good spot for injury’s sake.
O’Neill didn’t play in the team’s embarrassing Week 8 loss in Los Angeles, and Darrisaw tried to push through but left the contest after just a few snaps.
With a long week to heal, though, the pair could be available this weekend at the Detroit Lions.
Vikings OTs Not Battling Grim Injury Prognoses
Darrisaw and O’Neill should be back in the lineup before too long.
Kevin O’Connell on His Starting OTs
O’Connell said Friday about Darrisaw, who barely played in Week 8, “I think it’s something where hopefully we can get back into a consistent rhythm of what Christian’s work week looks like, a rhythm of what his recovery looks like coming off of a Sunday game, and then try to consistently get him turned over because it’s no secret how critical he’s been to our success, how critical he’s been to our consistency.”
“I’m hoping this Sunday-to-Sunday schedule for the foreseeable future will help hopefully with getting a little bit more of 71 out there on a consistent basis.”
O’Neill, battling a sprained MCL recovery, didn’t play at the Chargers because of a short week. O’Connell said, “I do feel positive about where both Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw are today, and hopefully, in regards to their work week next week and leading into being available.”
Good Timing if Both Return at DET
Listen, the Vikings will need all the help they can get this Sunday at Ford Field. They have not won a game at that place since the 2020 season, so, yes, a five-year drought is ongoing.
Meanwhile, J.J. McCarthy will presumably return at quarterback, and for a man who played woefully during his last start, he’ll need Darrisaw and O’Neill to protect him for three hours this weekend.
On the whole, Minnesota hasn’t beaten Dan Campbell’s team in three years, and they probably won’t end that streak with a missing offensive tackle or two. Darrisaw and O’Neill’s health are crucial for Minnesota’s Week 9 outlook. Vital.
A Horror Show without Them in Week 8
Minnesota tried to beat Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers last Thursday without Darrisaw and O’Neill. The plan flopped. Minnesota possessed the ball on offense for just 20 minutes, thrusting the defense onto the field for two-thirds of the game. The purple team got crushed 37-10 in one of the most excruciating and horrific losses of the Kevin O’Connell era.
There’s no reason to think the Lions game this Sunday will be any different if Darrisaw and/or O’Neill cannot play. In fact — shield your eyes — the beatdown could be worse.
Now Is the Time to Save the Season
Moreover, the Vikings have a choice. And that choice hits a fever pitch in Week 9. It can a) Find a way to beat the Lions and end the naughty losing streak to the division rival, b) Play competently enough to restore faith in a season that has veered off the rails in the last two games.
The club has a 3-4 record, and with the NFC already staking playoff hopefuls, Minnesota must win a game this week or next. If they do not, even a November or December win spurt could be too late for playoff contention.
Therefore, again, Darrisaw and O’Neill are damn near mandatory.
More on Darrisaw
The Viking Age‘s Brad Berreman wrote late last week, “The public understanding has always been that Darrisaw suffered a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee, so there’s no use hiding that.”
“O’Connell seemed to hint there’s more to the injury, which would help explain the rest days and being on some kind of snap count whenever it’s deemed necessary. If Darrisaw had lasted more than nine snaps against the Chargers, would he have otherwise been on a snap count due to the short week? We’ll never know.”
If Darrisaw or O’Neill cannot play in Week 9, some combination of Justin Skule and Walter Rouse will take over.
Berreman added, “One thing is for sure. Darrisaw’s injury situation has been weird, and no less an authority than one of the longest-tenured Vikings’ reporters confirmed it. Right tackle Brian O’Neill being inactive on Thursday night may have pushed Darrisaw toward trying to play, and he ultimately just couldn’t do it.”
“That happens sometimes. But after being on a random snap count a few weeks ago, and O’Connell now inviting speculation about a more serious issue (or a setback?), how Darrisaw’s injury situation has been handled can and should be questioned on all levels.”
Vikings center Ryan Kelly is also out, placed on injured reserve a few weeks ago due to multiple concussions. He may not return at all.
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