Christian Darrisaw Injury Update: Minnesota Vikings Star Left Tackle Done for Season

By Eric Strack |

Updated: Oct 25, 2024

Christian Darrisaw, Minnesota Vikings — Credit: Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings took their second-straight loss of the 2024 season on Thursday. Now 5-2, there’s some soul searching that’ll need to be done at TCO Performance Center this weekend, after the Vikings fell to a very mediocre Los Angeles Rams team that played like their season on the line, which it was.

It’d be irresponsible to ignore what happened to superstar left tackle Christian Darrisaw, with just 30 seconds remaining in the 2nd quarter, though. Backed up against their own goalline, Kevin O’Connell called a run play to try and put some space between the Minnesota Vikings and their own endzone.

Had the Vikings been on their own 5 yd line, instead of the 1 yd line, it’s possible KOC would have just kneeled out the first half clock. Instead, the ball was handed off to Aaron Jones, who was tackled from the right side by Rams safety, Jaylen McCollough.

Christian Darrisaw suffers injury vs LA Rams

Unfortunately, as McCollough was making the tackle, his momentum dragged him into the back of left tackle Christian Darrisaw’s knees. It was the final play of Darrisaw’s night. Twitter doctors immediately diagnosed the injury as a (likely) sprained MCL… but it turned out to be so much worse than that.

Christian Darrisaw #vikings

Knee gets hit from the outside while engaged in a block, causes a valgus moment (inward motion) at the knee. Likely dealing with an MCL injury. pic.twitter.com/QwvDr2w9ch
— Tom Christ, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT (@FantasyInjuryT) October 25, 2024

This is the play that injured Christian Darrisaw #NFL pic.twitter.com/GSFmomdiqI
— Tanner Phifer (@TannerPhifer) October 25, 2024

After scoring touchdowns on their first two drives of the game, Minnesota failed to find paydirt the rest of the night. That’s right, Sam Darnold & Co put up 14 points, during the Vikings’ 18 first quarter plays, leading the offense for 140 total yards and milked over 10 minutes of clock.

The rest of the night, Minnesota’s offense managed just six total points and 136 total yards of offense. Yes, the Vikings gained more yards in their first two drives than they did the entire rest of the game.

Throw in arguably one of the worst nights of refereeing we have ever witnessed — and for sure the most egregious missed facemask penalty ever — there are at least 37 different reasons for why the Vikings lost to the Rams on Thursday Night Football.

Darrisaw ruled out for season

Then, on Friday afternoon, after the MRI came back for Darrisaw, Adam Schefter (ESPN) broke the news that the Minnesota Vikings franchise staple, at left tackle, will be out for the rest of the season, after they found out he needs major surgery on his injured knee.

A couple of hours after the original news broke, Kevin O’Connell told media that Darrisaw has a torn ACL and MCL, which explains why he won’t be blocking for the Minnesota Vikings again this season.

Tests today revealed that Vikings standout left tackle Christian Darrisaw is going to need season-ending knee surgery, per source. Another loss on top of Thursday night’s. pic.twitter.com/zZf8lIhc4F
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 25, 2024

It's a torn ACL and MCL in the left knee for Christian Darrisaw, per Kevin O'Connell.
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) October 25, 2024

During his first three seasons in the NFL, Christian Darrisaw has blossomed into one of the best offensive tackles in the league. The type of O-line staple that every team in the league wishes they had protecting their quarterback’s blind side.

What’s next for the Vikings at left tackle?

Now that he is out for the season, 34-year-old David Quessenberry will be the immediate replacement on the left side of the line, unless the Vikings decide to shake things up, in a big way. Quessenberry took over for Darrisaw in the 2nd half vs the Rams, and the result wasn’t pretty.

Suddenly, pass rushers were pouring in through the left side as if the Vikings just cleared their gutters for the first time in decades. That caused discomfort and happy feet in the second half for Minnesota’s QB1, who threw for 128 yards and zero touchdowns in the 2nd half. This, after going 8-of-8 for 97 yards and two touchdowns in the 1st quarter, alone.

Kevin O’Connell told reporters on Friday that Quessenberry is one of the options they are considering at left tackle, going forward in 2024. But… there are others the are looking into, as well.

Kevin O'Connell said coaches are considering multiple options for replacing Christian Darrisaw at left tackle. One is veteran David Quessenberry, but there are others.
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) October 25, 2024