Following Thursday night’s matchup, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell addressed the media with a hopeful tone, expressing the team’s anticipation for positive news regarding the health of left tackle Christian Darrisaw, who unfortunately suffered a knee injury right at the end of the second quarter.
However, the optimism quickly dissipated as Friday brought devastating news for Minnesota. Reports circulating around the league confirmed that an MRI showed Darrisaw’s injury to be more severe than initially anticipated, indicating that he would require season-ending knee surgery.
The moment Darrisaw went down on the field following a run play, he was seen limping gingerly towards the locker room with the assistance of trainers. It was a heartbreaking scene for both the player and his teammates, knowing that their starting left tackle would be sidelined for the remainder of the season.
With Darrisaw out of the picture, the Vikings turned to David Quessenberry to fill the void at left tackle for the remainder of Thursday’s game. O’Connell spoke about the situation, stating, “We’ll see what it looks like with CD and ultimately put together a good plan. Regardless of who’s out there, I’ve got a lot of confidence in our guys.”
Darrisaw, a first-round pick in 2021, had recently inked a four-year contract extension with Minnesota in late July, solidifying his role as a key piece of the team’s offensive line. Having started 46 games over the last four seasons, his absence will undoubtedly be felt by the Vikings as they navigate through the challenges of the upcoming games without him.
