The Minnesota Vikings lost their seat atop the AFC West after being thoroughly defeated by the Los Angeles Chargers, 37-10, at SoFi Stadium on Thursday. This loss marked the Vikings’ first back-to-back defeats of the season, following their Week 7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, dropping their record to 3-4.
Minnesota’s struggles were further compounded when left tackle Christian Darrisaw reaggravated his knee injury in the first half and did not return to the game. With Darrisaw possibly sidelined for an extended period, the Vikings’ offensive line depth faces an even greater challenge.
After the game, Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell refrained from revealing the full extent of Darrisaw’s injury but provided some context regarding the situation.
“Whether it was because of playing in Dublin, going into London, the high snap count, or just the fact that we have Christian on a plan of attack every week — based on the type of injury he’s coming back from, I’m not going to go into detail with what that injury was, but I would just say there is a layer to Christian doing everything he can,” O’Connell said, as quoted by The Athletic’s Alec Lewis.
He continued, “But when he has a higher snap count or you’re on a very short week of travel and everything, there’s just only so much that we can do.”
Earlier this season, the Vikings played the Cleveland Browns in London during Week 5, where they emerged victorious with a 21-17 win before enjoying a bye week. In their recent game against the Eagles, Minnesota executed 67 plays for 382 yards, showcasing a heavy workload for key players like Darrisaw.
The 26-year-old offensive tackle only participated in seven games last season due to a knee injury. Despite that, he secured a four-year contract extension worth up to $113 million in 2024, emphasizing the team’s commitment to his role.
Coach O’Connell assured fans that the Vikings would provide a detailed update once Darrisaw completes his medical tests. For now, the team faces important decisions as they navigate the ongoing challenges on their offensive line.
https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/vikings-news-kevin-oconnell-explains-christian-darrisaw-injury-saga