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Vikings Must Avoid Christian Darrisaw Temptation in Opener

By Chris Schad

Sep 19, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw (71) prepares to block against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Sep 19, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw (71) prepares to block against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images / Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
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The Minnesota Vikings enter this season with big expectations this year and it begins with Monday’s matchup against the Chicago Bears. With an easy five-game stretch to begin the season, it's imperative for the Vikings to get off to a good start and it could mean that they’ll need all hands on deck in Week 1.

That issue is complicated by Christian Darrisaw. The Vikings’ franchise tackle has been working his way back from a torn ACL/MCL suffered last October and his availability for the season opener is up in the air. While it would be nice to have him when the Vikings take the field, Kevin O’Connell may be best exercising caution before letting his cornerstone make his return.

Vikings Must Take Long-Term View with Christian Darrisaw

The reasons for letting Darrisaw play are obvious. Darrisaw took part in non-contact drills during the final practices of June’s mandatory minicamp and “checked every box” during training camp according to O’Connell. He also ranked ninth among 79 qualifying offensive tackles with an 82.5 overall grade before getting hurt in the Vikings Week 7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

There’s also something to be said about the Vikings’ schedule. While the Vikings could beat the Bears without Darrisaw, it’s imperative that they make sure the opener is in the win column. The same goes for the first five games of the season where Minnesota has winnable games against the Bears on the road, the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals at home, and the Pittsburgh Steelers (Dublin) and Cleveland Browns (London) in neutral site games.

This is why the Vikings were so aggressive in trading for Adam Thielen when they needed a receiver in the wake of Jordan Addison’s suspension. The added benefit of having an elite blindside protector for J.J. McCarthy’s first career start is something O’Connell will consider. But it’s what comes after the first five games that should have the Vikings thinking twice about Darrisaw’s availability.

The Vikings come out of the bye with a home game against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Then, they travel to face McCarthy’s old college coach, Jim Harbaugh, for a Thursday night matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. They stay on the road for their first matchup with the Detroit Lions the following week before coming home to face the Baltimore Ravens.

From there, it’s the final stretch where the Vikings want to be at their best. Presumably, that’s where they want Darrisaw to hit his stride and it’s the same long-term view they used with T.J. Hockenson after he suffered a similar injury on Christmas Eve 2023. Hockenson started last season on the physically unable to perform list and didn’t return until November 2024.

Darrisaw is further removed from his injury than Hockenson was this time last year. But it’s still something the Vikings must think about before making a decision. With more important games ahead, it may be worth giving Darrisaw an extra week and letting him take the field against the Falcons in Week 2 or even the Week 3 game against the Bengals.

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