Good And Bad News Are Related in the Twin Cities
The Minnesota Vikings have had a disappointing week. On Sunday, the purple franchise lost its first game of the season when Lions kicker Jake Bates split the uprights with his game-winning field goal. A few days later, the Vikings traveled to Los Angeles to play their first primetime matchup of the year, but Sean McVay’s Rams were the better team and won the contest.
Good And Bad News Are Related in the Twin Cities
Suddenly, the Vikings are 5-2 after the hot start in a campaign that didn’t have any expectations for a team in a transitional period after moving on from quarterback Kirk Cousins.
The Vikings have seen the worlds of good and bad news collide on Friday.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell held a virtual press conference a day after the second consecutive defeat. He promised to update Christian Darrisaw’s status going forward. The star left tackle suffered a knee injury on Thursday, and it didn’t look good at all.
Unfortunately, the worst fears were confirmed. The 25-year-old will miss the remainder of the season. He needs to undergo a season-ending knee surgery to repair a torn ACL and MCL. His absence will leave a gaping hole on the left side of the offensive line.
Darrisaw is one of the elite players employed by the Vikings, and he is playing the important left tackle position, protecting Sam Darnold’s blindside. A master at keeping defenders away from the passer, without him, Darnold looked a little more spooked in the pocket.
Unless the team somehow finds Trent Williams in the locker room, his replacement will be a downgrade. For now, it’s fair to assume backup swing tackle David Quessenberry will take his place, although moving longtime backup tackle and now starting left guard Blake Brandel a spot to his left, with Dalton Risner re-entering the LG position. A trade is possible, too.
Regardless, Darrisaw’s season is over, and he has been placed on IR.
That’s the bad news. The good news is that the move opened a roster spot, and another excellent player will take that spot. Tight end T.J. Hockenson is back on the 53-man roster and will make his debut against the Colts, O’Connell confirmed Friday.
Hockenson had missed every game since Week 16 of last season when his former teammate Kerby Joseph made contact with his knee. Hockenson also suffered a torn ACL and MCL, and it took him almost ten months to recover.
Johnny Mundt and Josh Oliver have taken his spot, but neither can replace him in the passing game. O’Connell will surely be happy to get his dynamic weapon in the middle of the field back. The Vikings have featured a vertical passing attack in the first seven games, but Darrisaw’s absence could lead to some more quick game, which Hockenson is obviously the perfect player for.
Last year, when Justin Jefferson missed some time with his hamstring injury, the Vikings ran the offense through Hockenson, showing how special of a tight end Hockenson is.
The coaching and medical staff have played it safe with their pass-catcher, so he should be in good shape and immediately be good to go rather than be on a snap count early on.
Hockenson replacing Darrisaw on the roster is bitter-sweet. The Vikings will not play a single game in 2024 with all of their offensive top players available.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt