Christian Darrisaw Drops Cryptic Hint about Status
The long wait — really long — may be over.
Minnesota Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw is nearing a long-awaited return, and the man dropped a little social media clue this week.
Christian Darrisaw tore his ACL about 11 months ago in a game at the Los Angeles Rams, and if one believes in social media clues, the man may be ready for action as early as this weekend.
No matter what, Darrisaw is due to return soon.
Fans Have Patiently Waited on Christian Darrisaw All Summer
Go-time may be this weekend.
Christian Darrisaw’s Instagram Clue
Darrisaw has experienced plenty of recovery-related momentum to bounce back from the torn ACL, basically beginning in June at mandatory minicamp when he shocked onlookers by showing up in full pads.
Since then, though, it’s just best-laid plans to get Darrisaw back onto the regular season field.
Well, Wednesday provided the next hint. Darrisaw posted this to Instagram:
Of course, that doesn’t mean Darrisaw is guaranteed to play this Sunday, but most interpreted the picture as a hint of his game-readiness.
The Man Is Practicing Fully
Darrisaw practiced fully on Wednesday, which would normally be a smoking gun for the impending game. But Darrisaw also practiced last week, and Minnesota decided to err on the side of caution by resting him against the Atlanta Falcons.
The result? Minnesota allowed 5 sacks, while J.J. McCarthy got tossed all over the place, resulting in a high ankle sprain that will keep him out of the lineup for 1-4 games.
The Recovery Timeline Checks Out
If a team were to proceed cautiously with an ACL recovery, well, the time is ripe for that player to return in Darrisaw’s case. New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs tore his ACL during the same week as Darrisaw last season, and he was ready for Week 1 a couple of weeks ago.
There’s a reason Darrisaw has practiced fully as of late: he’s ready to go. The recovery timeline, assuming no setbacks, should end any day.
Probably why Darrisaw is posting such pictures to his Instagram account.
All about the Vikings’ Green Light
This thing is up to the Vikings — the training staff, the general manager, and the coaching staff. Darrisaw has mentioned for weeks that he feels ready to go. He just needs his employer to sign off.
Minnesota handed Darrisaw a contract worth up to $113 million over four years in the summer of 2024, and the franchise apparently wants to double- and triple-check his health before green-lighting his return.
Much like tight end T.J. Hockenson last season, Minnesota has chosen the most cautious path imaginable for Darrisaw’s return.
Kyle Joudry on Darrisaw
Our Kyle Joudry opined on Darrisaw’s recovery this week: “Darrisaw could come back in Week 3. If so, Carson Wentz will have a better chance of earning a win in his first start as the Vikings’ starting quarterback.”
“Keeping Darrisaw off the field in Week 3, though, would be perfectly fine if Minnesota decides that’s the best course of action for the lineman’s long-term health (something that is paramount for the lineman who is operating on a four-year, $104 million contract).”
Minnesota spent oodles of free agency cash on offensive line improvements during the offseason, and so far, the product has proved to be underwhelming.
“No Darrisaw on Sunday still offers the possible benefit of shaving off a week from an IR timeline. Darrisaw could be absent from Week 1 to Week 3 and still justify not being shuffled to the IR since he’ll be back for Week 4. In that outcome, the Vikings made the correct decision. Seeing Christian Darrisaw fail to get onto the field in Week 4 would be pretty confusing, though,” Joudry continued.
“Being absent for the initial four games would be a hard-to-explain outcome short of a behind-the-scenes setback the team didn’t foresee. Assuming all is proceeding smoothly, the Christian Darrisaw deadline has to be the overseas games even as Vikings fans will be hoping that the left tackle gets onto the field in Week 3 to square off with Trey Hendrickson.”
Darrisaw’s practice status doesn’t much matter: the proof will be in the pudding whether Minnesota activates him on Sunday morning for the Week 3 contest.
If Darrisaw does not play this weekend, Minnesota is expected to start second-year OT Walter Rouse.
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