Christian Darrisaw, a rookie left tackle for the Minnesota Vikings, was put on injured reserve, ending his season. The 26-year-old phenom played in ten games this season. He dealt with a chronic knee injury that has troubled him for the last almost 14 months. His most serious injury came in a game against the L.A. Rams on October 24 of last year. The injury resulted in complete tears to both his ACL and MCL.
Throughout the season, Darrisaw struggled and fought with his knee. He left five of the ten games early, including two he chose to exit: Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns and Week 8 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Coaches wanted him out of three more games on top of that. This change was intended to allow him to more strategically focus his efforts.
As much as Darrisaw’s dedication to the team shone through, the physical burden became insurmountable. On Thursday, he declined to talk about his tumultuous season. When pressed on whether he’d be ready for the Vikings’ last three games, he was noncommittal.
Responding to Darrisaw’s placement on short-term injured reserve, coach Kevin O’Connell made it clear that putting him there was a joint decision.
“This was a collaborative decision based upon where we’re at in the season,” – Kevin O’Connell
Key in O’Connell’s mind, Darrisaw has gone through camp and offending with no reported setbacks or new injuries. This indicates that the action is primarily a preventative measure.
Darrisaw’s knee injury has cast a shadow on what has otherwise been a pretty darn good rookie season. In July 2024, he signed a lucrative four-year contract extension worth up to $113 million, reflecting the Vikings’ confidence in his abilities and potential. O’Connell expressed optimism regarding Darrisaw’s future, specifically mentioning a positive outlook for 2026.
There’s just a lot of layers to it,” O’Connell remarked when discussing Darrisaw’s situation, highlighting the complexities involved in managing an athlete’s health over a long season.
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