Questions Answered: Cine’s Unclear Future, Darrisaw, Now What after 3-1
Dustin Baker
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The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by PurplePTSD. Today is the October 3rd edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
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Q: Do you expect Lewis Cine to play football again?
A: That is spookily in jeopardy.
Chris Tomasson from the Pioneer Press tweeted on Monday, “If surgery goes well, there’s hope could even be doing some walking in several weeks & then return in 2023. But [the] key to surgery is making sure there’s no infection which would be [a] setback. More to be known after surgery.”
So, this one, quite frankly, is “baby steps” where Cine walks again and then determines if he can play again. The injury is incredibly serious.
Q: Has Christian Darrisaw solidified his spot as a top NFL offensive tackle?
A: Yes. Darrisaw ranks eighth through four weeks among all offensive tackles, per Pro Football Focus.
The man has arrived, and he’s led the Vikings offensive per PFF grade in back-to-back weeks. Barring a remarkably odd regression — like Matt Kalil a decade ago — Darrisaw is here to stay.
His counterpart, Brian O’Neill, strangely had an underwhelming game in London — which we don’t often type on this website.
Q: After the Vikings 3-1 start, do you expect them to win the NFC North?
A: The Vikings can win the NFC North and contend for the NFC Championship. They’re not quite Super Bowl contenders through four games, but only the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills own those titles as of now.
Minnesota’s defense has to continue maturation. It really isn’t reliable at the moment — until the game is on the line. The defense is showing up in big moments — we’ll take it — while still allowing chunk yardage to all opponents.
The purple team can win the NFC North but must stack victories over “easy” teams because the Packers aren’t ready to die.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).