Vikings Inch Closer to Christian Darrisaw Verdict
For 10 months, Minnesota Vikings fans have wondered if franchise cornerstone left tackle Christian Darrisaw would heal in time for the 2025 regular season.
With Christian Darrisaw joining practice drills, the Vikings inch closer to a decision on his Week 1 availability, with CHI five days away.
Darrisaw tore his ACL in a Thursday Night Football game last October and has valiantly battled back since.
Now, with the regular season opener right around the bend, Minnesota provided a bit more insight into Darrisaw’s Week 1 availability.
Christian Darrisaw Status Update Inches into Week 1 Picture
The offensive lineman is close. Very close.
Christian Darrisaw Feels Closer to a Week 1 Go Than Ever
Darrisaw practiced Wednesday, an incredibly encouraging sign for Monday Night Football at the Chicago Bears. That event served as a real-life litmus test of his readiness.
All summer, Darrisaw has trended in the right direction, and head coach Kevin O’Connell said this week that Darrisaw has a realistic chance to play against the Bears. He didn’t assign any odds or percentage, but the breadcrumbs seem to hint at a 60% chance or so.
Kevin O’Connell’s Words
Here’s what O’Connell told reporters Wednesday: “He had a great camp, checked every box from a workload standpoint, building into this week. He’ll practice today. Always, with CD, just with how committed he’s been to taking the daily approach, we’ve done the same with him. We’re gonna progress forward and be smart, but we’re gonna give him every opportunity to practice and then see how he feels, and ultimately, in regards to his availability, we’ll make that decision as the week progresses. He looks really good.”
“I think he surprised even himself early on in training camp, as we began that crafted plan by Tyler Williams and the doctors and Christian himself. He’s had some really good progression days where we’ve been able to stack it up. And we’re in game week now. He’s gonna take a lot of reps today, if not all of them, and then we’ll see how he feels.”
Darrisaw is also searching for an elusive first Pro Bowl nomination, and a full 17 games might tip him over the edge for voters.
O’Connelll continued, “Ultimately, Christian’s such an important player to our team that we want to make sure we’re smart about the plan, but also, I think he’s earned the right to, by all the things he’s done — there’s no reason to make the decision for any other reason than what’s best for CD, and he’s gonna be heavily involved in that. Knowing we’ve got 17 games, including a short week next week, and then ultimately our trip overseas. There’s gotta be a big picture mindset to a player of Christian’s caliber.”
“All that matters is this game to the Minnesota Vikings, Monday night in Chicago, but our jobs are to make sure we’re doing what’s best for the team for the greater duration of 17-plus games. And what that means for Monday night, I don’t know as of right now. I just know what my eyes have shown me, what Christian’s demonstrated has given us, through a really calculated plan, a good possibility of him playing on Monday night.”
In O’Connell-speak, that is a tentative green light for Darrisaw.
Getting the J.J. McCarthy Era Off to a Hot Start
Second-year quarterback McCarthy will make his first career start on Monday night, and everything would just flow more smoothly if Darrisaw is in the lineup.
The offense and game, in general, would be navigable sans Darrisaw, but it’s just better to have stuffing with the turkey on Thanksgiving. Last year, Minnesota, for example, traded for Cam Robinson when Darrisaw hit injured reserve, and Robinson just wasn’t quite the same in the purple trenches.
Justin Skule as the Contingency
Meanwhile, if the Vikings proceed out of an abundance of caution, newcomer Justin Skule would get the nod at LT1.
The aforementioned Robinson did not return for 2025, signing with the Houston Texans, and the other reserve offensive tackle, David Quessenberry, joined the Los Angeles Rams in free agency. Without Robinson or Quessenberry, Skule would assume a starter’s workload until Darrisaw’s return.
Skule produced a 69.2 Pro Football Focus grade last year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while playing about 350 snaps. That will work in a pinch.
More on Darrisaw
Star Tribune‘s Andrew Krammer noted on Darrisaw’s trajectory for Monday night: “There is a ‘good possibility’ that quarterback J.J. McCarthy has premier left tackle Christian Darrisaw protecting his blind side during the Vikings’ season opener on Monday night in Chicago, coach Kevin O’Connell said Wednesday. Darrisaw, the 315-pound blocker, is more than 10 months removed from the two torn ligaments in his left knee that ended his 2024 season.”
“The endurance of Darrisaw’s surgically-repaired left knee would be a reason the Vikings may still hold him out, O’Connell said. Tackle Justin Skule, the 28-year-old journeyman who signed with the Vikings in March, would start if necessary. The Vikings and Bears will issue the week’s first injury reports on Thursday.”
The Vikings haven’t lost a game at Soldier Field in six years.
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