Week 15 Injury for Vikings Suddenly Turns Concerning
He has one day to rally, but Week 15 is not looking good for Minnesota Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw.
A Vikings Week 15 injury just got worrisome, with a key lineman missing a second straight practice and his availability for Sunday now in doubt.
Darrisaw has not practiced in Eagan at all this week, logging two DNPs on Wednesday and Thursday, usually a sign that a player won’t play in the following game. Fans will hope Darrisaw is the exception this go-round.
No Christian Darrisaw at Vikings Week 15 Practices
The season-long bout with health continues.
Two DNPs for Darrisaw to Start Week
Throughout the season, Darrisaw has tended to miss one day of practice — and rebound for the other two days. This week is different. The superstar left tackle has not seen any action in Eagan.
The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis tweeted Thursday, “Vikings LT Christian Darrisaw the only DNP today. He’s missed a lot of Thursdays all year. He usually doesn’t miss Wednesday but he missed Wednesday. We’ll see tomorrow.”
Darrisaw has missed three games due to injury this season, and a fourth may be on the horizon.
An LP or FP Needed on Friday
The Vikings have no recent precedent for a player missing practice altogether and later playing the guy on a Sunday. It doesn’t happen much around the NFL, and it defintely doesn’t occur in Minnesota.
So, Darrisaw must practice tomorrow, at least in a limited capacity. If he does not, the Week 15 dream is dead.
There’s a small perk, though it cannot be all the way trusted. The Cowboys’ defense is stinky, ranking among the worst in the NFL — before and after the high-profile Quinnen Williams trade. Therefore, if there were ever a team this season to face without a cornerstone left tackle, it might be Dallas. Minnesota would not encounter a cakewalk deep in the heart of Texas, but this is not the Danielle Hunter + Will Anderson Houston Texans on the menu.
Justin Skule Ready in a Pinch
Suppose Darrisaw does not play — it’s sadly trending that way. Skule would take the reins at left tackle, barring an unforeseen pivot to a player like Blake Brandel, who can play every position on the offensive line.
Skule has seen action on 341 offensive snaps this season, not a puny number. He’s accountable for a 59.1 Pro Football Focus grade, with a 56.8 mark via pass protection and a 56.0 in run-blocking. He’s allowed 7 sacks on 231 pass-blocking opportunities, along with 23 pressures.
In contemporary lingo, Skule is mid.
He may, however, be due for a breakout game. Stay tuned.
The Disaster Last Time without Darrisaw
Minnesota didn’t have Darrisaw’s services two weeks ago in Seattle. How did that work out? The club fired up its first shutout on offense in 18 years, losing 26-0 to the Seahawks, as undrafted rookie quarterback Max Brosmer played like a mix between Spergon Wynn and 2013 Josh Freeman. Brosmer could have used Darrisaw that afternoon, even if his emphatic struggles were a bit too pronounced to fix on the whole.
The Vikings also didn’t have rookie left guard Donovan Jackson that day, but he’s trending to play this weekend at Dallas.
It would just be easier if Darrisaw rallied and played on Sunday Night Football, but that plan is fading fast.
Cowboys Injuries
Dallas, of course, has injuries as well. It’s that time of year.
Blogging the Boys‘ LP Cruz wrote Thursday, “Still no official practice for Tyler Guyton. Guyton has missed multiple games because of a high-ankle sprain, and maybe he can get some limited action tomorrow, but for now, he is trending toward not playing Sunday night.”
“CeeDee Lamb (concussion) did practice again today and improved to full participation. That is a major plus, as he suffered no setbacks after participating in a limited fashion yesterday. Also, cornerback Trevon Diggs (knee) was limited again today, and if Diggs proves he can do all that’s asked of him from the Cowboys coaching staff, we may see him back Sunday.”
The Cowboys must win on Sunday night or risk virtual mathematical elimination from the postseason. The Vikings would be outright kicked out of playoff contention with a loss. One team’s season will end on Sunday night.
Cruz added, “Jake Ferguson (calf) was downgraded a DNP Thursday and is a storyline to keep an eye on for the remainder of the week. Meanwhile, Jadeveon Clowney (hamstring) was limited today. Cornerback Shavon Revel (knee) was also limited again.”
Dallas has toppled Minnesota in five of its last six chances. Oddsmakers predict a Cowboys dub by five or six points.
If no Darrisaw, fans will merely hope that Skule can skol.
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