Vikings Face Challenges as Christian Darrisaw Goes on Injured Reserve

The Minnesota Vikings have placed left tackle Christian Darrisaw on injured reserve, as confirmed by head coach Kevin O'Connell. Darrisaw has been dealing with a complex knee injury, and while he has not suffered a setback, he has struggled to stay on the field this season due to ongoing issues.

This move ends his season with three games remaining, following a history of injuries that began with a torn ACL in 2024. Darrisaw missed the first two games of the current season and has had multiple early exits in games since.

With Darrisaw sidelined, Justin Skule is expected to step in at left tackle, although Blake Brandel could also be an option for this critical position. The Vikings are facing mounting concerns regarding their offensive line depth as they head into important games, particularly with right tackle Brian O'Neill listed as questionable due to a heel injury for their upcoming matchup against the New York Giants.

The team is also managing the statuses of several other players, including tight end Gavin Bartholomew and running back Ty Chandler, both of whom are questionable with injuries. This situation raises significant questions about the Vikings' ability to maintain offensive performance in the final stretch of the season, especially with their playoff prospects now in jeopardy.