There’s a Christian Darrisaw Injury Update
Because free agency turned out so fantastically for the Minnesota Vikings, and because the NFL Draft is just two days away, Christian Darrisaw’s injury recovery has been placed on the back burner, at least compared to popular offseason topics.
There’s a Christian Darrisaw Injury Update
The franchise’s cornerstone left tackle tore his ACL last season, ending his fourth campaign in the pros, about four months removed from a mammoth contract extension.
But courtesy of Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, there’s a Darrisaw injury recovery update — and it’s terrific.
Kevin O’Connell Says Christian Darrisaw’s Recovery Is Wonderful
O’Connell spoke with the media on Monday, mainly because the draft will occur later this week. But reporters wouldn’t miss an opportunity to ask about Darrisaw’s progress.
The young head coach said about the process, “Christian Darrisaw has absolutely knocked it out of the park so far. Working alongside our staff here. He’s had a really, really good offseason up until this point. The latest update I got. You know, he’s lifting, he’s running. People were pretty excited about where he’s at now. It’s just a matter of maintaining.”
“And he’s had such a professional focus, with very, very, you know, really from day one, remarkably, he’s just had such a good attitude about attacking his rehab, knowing exactly what he is and who he is as a player and working his way right back to that place and beyond. So we feel really good about that.”
The forum would’ve been an appropriate time to detail any setbacks or hiccups, but O’Connell simply didn’t do that.
Darrisaw is on track to return sometime early in 2025.
The Scene of the Crime
Right before Halloween, Minnesota played a regular season game at the Los Angeles Rams — the team that would kick them out of the postseason 2.5 months later — that it ultimately lost. You might remember the contest — Sam Darnold’s facemask was grabbed on the Vikings’ final offensive play, and referees mind-bogglingly didn’t see it.
But before that, Darrisaw tore his ACL on a rather meaningless 2nd Quarter play, and fans held their breath.
The following day, the injury’s extent hit the airwaves, and Minnesota had lost Darrisaw for the remainder of 2024. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah later fired off a trade for Jacksonville Jaguars left tackle Cam Robinson, who played decently in Darrisaw’s stead.
The T.J. Hockenson ACL Timeline Last Year
In December 2023, T.J. Hockenson tore his ACL against the Detroit Lions. He wound up missing about 10 months from cover to cover.
Thankfully — a weird way to put it — Darrisaw’s injury occurred in late October, which would nominate him for game-readiness around late August. And, yes, in theory, that puts Darrisaw on a track to start in Week 1 for the Vikings.
It’s worth noting that this brand of Vikings leadership often proceeds with injury recoveries rather gingerly, almost to a fault, so Darrisaw’s path to Week 1 isn’t ironclad.
It will depend on his progress this summer. But based on historical ACL recovery timelines, Darrisaw should be ready sometime in September, even if Week 1 isn’t on the table.
OT Justin Skule in the House
Who would fill in for Darrisaw if he didn’t play out of the gate? Probably free-agent newcomer Justin Skule.
Minnesota signed Skule last month, on tap as Darrisaw insurance and the team’s primary backup offensive tackle, along with 2024 rookie Walter Rouse, if Rouse doesn’t change positions to guard this summer.
Janik Eckardt of PurplePTSD, a partner site to VikingsTerritory, wrote about Skule last month: “Skule is a ginormous human, standing 6-6 and 315 pounds. He entered the league as a sixth-round pick in 2019 by the San Francisco 49ers, where he spent three seasons. Then, the organization released him, and he joined the Buccaneers. He had been there between 2022 and 2024 prior to becoming a free agent.”
“In his NFL career, Skule appeared in 66 games, starting 17 contests. Last season, the Buccaneers relied on his services in five starts and a total of 361 offensive snaps, playing on both sides of the line. He earned a solid 69.2 grade from PFF.”
That’ll work in a pinch.
A New-Look OL for Darrisaw, Vikings
When Darrisaw returns — hopefully in September — he’ll encounter a revamped offensive line, thanks to Adofo-Mensah’s free agent haul.
This is the new fivesome, including Darrisaw:
LT: Christian Darrisaw
LG: Blake Brandel
C: Ryan Kelly
RG: Will Fries
RT: Brian O’Neill
Kelly and Fries departed the Indianapolis Colts — together — for Minnesota in free agency.
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