Christian Darrisaw’s continued play less than a year after undergoing knee surgery is a revelation.
So the fact he missed nearly all of the Minnesota Vikings‘ game against the Los Angeles Chargers is not cause for alarm, according to Darrisaw himself.
The Vikings left tackle set the record straight about his abbreviated night against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night and why he felt that was just a blip amid Darrisaw’s return from major off-season knee surgery.
Darrisaw played just nine snaps in Minnesota’s 37-10 loss at SoFi Stadium, despite earning his fifth straight start at tackle. But with a mini bye ahead of Minnesota’s game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Darrisaw is confident he’ll be ready to go.
Christian Darrisaw ‘Tried To Give’ The Chargers Game A Go, ‘But It Just Didn’t Work Out’
Darrisaw played all 69 offensive snaps against in Minnesota’s six-point loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. But playing on just three days’ rest, and across multiple time zones, Darrisaw was unable to go more than 18 percent of Minnesota’s 49 snaps, which is a big reason why he quarterback Carson Wentz sustained eight QB hits and five sacks.
“I tried to give it a go, but it just didn’t work out,” Darrisaw said. “My knee feels great. There’s nothing wrong with my knee. Doc did a great job with the surgery. … Things have really been feeling good.”
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell spoke about Darrisaw’s limited game and confirmed the short week was a factor.
“I think it’s something where hopefully we can get back into a consistent rhythm of what Christianâs work week looks like, a rhythm of what his recovery looks like coming off of a Sunday game,” O’Connell said, “then try to consistently get him turned over because it’s no secret how critical he’s been to our success, how critical he’s been to our consistency.”
Minnesota will not play on a short week again until December — coincidentally when the Vikings will take on the Lions in their second meeting Christmas after a three day layoff following their Week 15 game against the New York Giants.
With that being the case, O’Connell is confident the Vikings will get more run from Darrisaw in the weeks ahead.
“I’m hoping this Sunday-to-Sunday schedule for the foreseeable future will help hopefully with getting a little bit more of [Darrisaw] out there on a consistent basis,” O’Connell said.
Kevin O’Connell Thinks Christian Darrisaw Will Face The Lions
The extra break will benefit both of Minnesota’s tackles, Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill.
“I do feel positive about where both Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw are today,” O’Connell said Friday, “hopefully, in regards to their work week next week and leading into being available.”
O’Connell said the Vikings need Darrisaw, especially protecting second-year franchise quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s blind side — since McCarthy is expected to return against the Lions at Ford Field on Sunday. But the fact Darrisaw has played five games already is a modern medical miracle to him.
âI came back way earlier than anyone had projected for me,” Darrisaw said. “Iâve played in more games than I thought I would at this point already.â
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