Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell wasn’t thrilled when starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw was pulled at the start of the fourth quarter of a must-win game on Sunday.
Still reconditioning his body from a season-ending knee injury from last season, Darrisaw was on a pitch count and was sidelined with his team trailing in the final quarter against the Cleveland Browns. Walter Rouse stepped in for Darrisaw and helped Carson Wentz and the offense mount a 10-play, 80-yard game-winning drive.
But the team’s injuries early this season have proven difficult to navigate. O’Connell was candid after the game with a tongue-in-cheek response to navigating Darrisaw’s fluid availability this season.
“Christian Darrisaw was part of a plan. We knew at some point, Christian, based upon the high snap count last week, we wanted to be smart with CD. [It] didn’t make it any easier, as far as having to navigate the end of the game there without one of the best left tackles in football,” O’Connell said in jest, “but I want to compliment CD and his willingness to continue to ramp up and be such a critical factor for our team.”
Darrisaw played all 76 offensive snaps in a Week 4 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, prompting the decision to have him on a pitch count against the Browns. He said he was “just listening to my body” when he was pulled, and that his body is still getting back into playing shape.
Darrisaw was still immensely impactful, helping hold Myles Garrett to a season-low two pressures despite three backups playing on the offensive line.
Vikings O-Line Facing Concerns as JJ McCarthy’s Return Nears
While Darrisaw will have the bye week to reset his body and hopefully be fully available moving forward, the Vikings offensive line is still on the mend.
Pro Bowl right tackle Brian O’Neill is week-to-week with an MCL injury. He missed last week and there has not been an update on his return to practice coming out of the Week 6 bye.
Meanwhile, starting center Ryan Kelly was placed on the injured reserve list after sustaining his second concussion in three weeks in Week 4. He will be unavailable until Week 10 at the earliest.
But there is some good news.
First-round rookie guard Donovan Jackson is expected to return to practice for a Week 7 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. Jackson underwent wrist surgery after Week 3 but remains on the active roster.
The Vikings may still be down Kelly and O’Neill coming out of the bye, but Justin Skule and Blake Brandel filled in admirably last week against a vaunted Browns defense.
That’s a step forward for the offensive line that will need to bring its A-game to help J.J. McCarthy, who could take over as starter coming out of the bye.
JJ McCarthy Expected to Return to Practice Ahead of Eagles Game
On Monday, O’Connell announced that McCarthy would return to practice next week and would also get some work during the bye week after missing the past three games with a high ankle sprain.
This is a significant step toward McCarthy returning as the team’s starting quarterback.
He will have his work cut out for him if he does return for a Week 7 matchup against a ferocious Eagles defensive front.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Vikings Coach Gets Brutally Honest About $113 Million Star’s Absence appeared first on Heavy Sports.