Vikings Get Ominous Forecast on Former 1st-Round Pick Before Training Camp

J.J. McCarthy

will presumably be under center when the Minnesota Vikings reconvene for training camp later this month (July 20 for rookies and July 22 for the team’s veterans), but is unlikely to have starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw protecting his blindside in team drills.

Darrisaw has yet to play an entire regular-season slate of games in his Vikings career. That unfortunate trend will likely continue in 2025.

He is not expected to be back until after the season opener.

“Will he be back in time for Week 1? That’s probably a rosy expectation at this point,” The Athletic’s Alec Lewis wrote on July 2. “Still, Darrisaw has attacked his rehab. The Vikings have commended his progress.”

The Vikings open the regular season on the road against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. The Vikings are 5-1 against the Bears under head coach Kevin O’Connell, and 3-0 at Soldier Field, specifically.

Darrisaw, who turned 26 in June, has posted updates about his rehab. However, they have mostly been in the form of pictures from the Vikings’ weight room.

It is a grim reality check following the encouragement of his return.

Christian Darrisaw Injury Threatens Vikings’ Offseason Plan

Darrisaw looms large for the Vikings. Not only because of the position he plays and the fact that they essentially have a rookie in McCarthy as QB1, who already has an injury history of his own after missing his rookie season with a torn meniscus.

But also because the Vikings spent heavily to reinforce their offensive line this offseason, likely in anticipation of turning to McCarthy after selecting him 10th overall in the 2024 draft.

Darrisaw and right tackle Brian O’Neill were projected as the only returning starters up front.

The Vikings signed center Ryan Kelly and guard Will Fries in free agency. They then used their first-round pick in 2025, No. 24 overall, on guard Donovan Jackson. He is expected to take over for Blake Brandel on the left side.

“Rarely do you see an NFL team take such a single-minded approach, not to mention devote this level of resources, to fix a personnel problem as the Vikings have this offseason for their interior offensive line,” ESPN’s Kevin Seifert wrote in April, noting his expectation Jackson will start as a rookie after Minnesota rejected trade-back offers to take him.

“That came one month after they committed $106 million in free agency for new center Ryan Kelly and new right guard Will Fries.”

Notably, the Vikings gave up 3.1 sacks per game with Darrisaw and 2.7 without him in 2024.

However, Darrisaw’s replacement, Cam Robinson, signed with the Houston Texans in free agency, compounding the issue for the Vikings. Moreover, the Vikings’ first opportunity to get out from under Darrisaw’s contract without owing more than they would save is after June 1, 2027.

Christian Darrisaw’s Injury History a Major Red Flag

Darrisaw, the No. 23 overall pick of the 2021 draft, has started 46 of 48 career games. He has been the Vikings’ starting left tackle since Week 6 of his rookie season, but injuries have been a persistent issue.

He made his NFL debut in Week 4 following core muscle surgery after his final season in college at Virginia Tech and another procedure to address the issue in August 2021.

Darrisaw missed two games later in the season due to an ankle injury.

He missed three games in 2022 with a concussion and two games in 2023 with ankle and, later, groin issues before his devastating injury against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 8 of the 2024 regular season.

He signed a four-year, $76 million contract with the team in July 2024.