After missing practice this week with the Vikings preparing to play the New York Giants, star left tackle Christian Darrisaw has been placed on injured reserve. He is officially out for the season as a result.
It had been trending in this direction for Darrisaw as he’s been dealing with the lingering effects of a significant knee injury. He has missed games here and there while trying to navigate a recovery process that has extended longer than anybody saw coming.
Asked about Darrisaw earlier this week, head coach Kevin O’Connell said he doesn’t think this will be an issue long term. He added that they have tried to put together a plan to manage the ups and downs short term.
“I don’t think this is going to be anything that will be a part of his future,” O’Connell said. “I do think we’re going to be able to put this in the rear view mirror here.”
The fact that Darrisaw is out for the season means the Vikings will have backup left tackle Justin Skule starting in his place. That will at least provide some certainty for the Vikings when constructing a game plan, even if it comes at a cost of losing a premier player at the position.
“The most challenging times are when there’s some uncertainty about whether he’s going to be able to go,” offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said. “That’s the nature of going into a game plan saying, ‘OK. We may have him. We may not have him.’”
A big part of the game plan without Darrisaw available has been having tight end T.J. Hockenson chip on the edge before going out to run a route. It’s the most he’s been asked to chip on the edge it in his career and it likely be much of the same moving forward.
“We’ve had some injuries on the offensive line so I’ve been asked to do some protection stuff,” Hockenson said. “I’m going to do whatever I can do to help this team win.”
The decision to place Darrisaw on injured reserve came after a lot of dialogue with everybody involved. As he addressed the situation, O’Connell emphasized that the Vikings are 100% behind Darrisaw as he continues to work through the recovery process.
“I’ve admired the way the way that Christian has attacked this,” O’Connell said. “He’s wanted to be out there for every possible snap he could be with his teammates.”
Briefly
The injury report for the Vikings isn’t very lengthy heading into the game against the Giants on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium. It includes defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (thigh) being ruled out and right tackle Brian O’Neill (heel) being listed as questionable.
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