The Minnesota Vikings have announced an injury update on franchise left tackle Christian Darrisaw.
The young offensive lineman missed the Vikings’ Sunday Night Football victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Vikings’ head coach Kevin O’Connell broke down the decision as to why.
Vikings’ LT Christian Darrisaw Gets Injury Update
GettyMinnesota Vikings offensive tackle, Christian Darrisaw, being helped off the field against the Los Angeles Chargers on October 24, 2025.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reported that Kevin O’Connell said Christian Darrisaw experienced swelling in his left knee leading up to the Cowboys game. This led to the decision to shut him down for the primetime showdown at AT&T Stadium.
Also in Seifert’s report, Minnesota will “evaluate each week whether he can play in their remaining games.” Additionally, Kevin O’Connell reportedly doesn’t have concerns about the long-term availability of the left tackle.
Seifert quoted O’Connell:
“I don’t think this is going to be anything that will be a part of his future here. … With time and with the significant injury he had, I do think we’re going to be able to put this in the rear view mirror here.”
Now, it seems time for Minnesota to make a decision on Darrisaw. On one hand, is it really worth it to play him and risk further injury when the Vikings are officially eliminated from the playoffs? One fan on X thought so, writing “shut him down” under Seifert’s report.
More fans echoed that point. One user said “Put him on ice for the winter. Zero reason to make him play until next year”. Another said “If CD’s knee is having swelling, there is NO NEED for CD to practice this week or travel to NY. They put McCarthy on a plane to Ireland and that probably set him back with swelling in the ankle earlier this year”.
Should Minnesota Shut Darrisaw Down for the Year?
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – OCTOBER 10: Christian Darrisaw #71 of the Minnesota Vikings warms-up before the game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 10, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
It is a completely valid point that maybe the Vikings should just let Darrisaw have the rest of the season off. The Vikings can no longer play any meaningful football in terms of chasing a Super Bowl in 2025. Therefore, what’s the point of risking further injury to one of your franchise cornerstones?
NFL teams don’t think the same exact way that fans do. They are always looking to win games no matter what, because these players and coaches have too much to lose when it comes to not trying to win.
Additionally, the rest of the 2025 season is about the development of young signal caller J.J. McCarthy. The team is going to want to put him in the best position to succeed as the season continues, leading to his best possible chance to develop.
It’s hard to imagine that the Vikings would sit Darrisaw just because they’re out of the tournament and he’s healthy. It’s also potentially rash to assume that Darrisaw himself would just be “ok” with sitting out to sit out.
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