Vikings Deliver News that Pushes MIN from Bad to Worse After Week 12 Meltdown
The Vikings delivered some news following the Packers collapse that makes things even dicier (as hard as that is to believe).
Head coach Kevin O’Connell took some time for the media following his team’s defeat at Lambeau. As per usual, Coach O’Connell chatted about the roster health (or lack thereof). The bad news is that Minnesota’s offensive line has taken a step back, per O’Connell: “Christian Darrisaw had an ankle that he tried to play through and eventually he came out of the game. Donovan Jackson, I believe, also had an ankle and a foot.”
Vikings Deliver Poor OL News
Journey back in time to a moment in Vikings football where optimism still existed.
The prophesied starting offensive line was going to consist of LT1 Christian Darrisaw, LG1 Donovan Jackson, C1 Ryan Kelly, RG1 Will Fries, and RT1 Brian O’Neill. At least on paper, that’s a front five capable of nullifying fearsome defensive fronts (such as a perilous Packers group that boasts Micah Parsons). A matchup sport requires having the personnel to undermine the way another team is trying to attack; the large lads for the trenches were going to be capable of fulfilling that need.
Minnesota’s coaches, fans, and beleaguered quarterback (read more) then had a lesson in patience. The promised front-five only congealed into real play in Week 12.
In some ways, that was an excellent development. McCarthy needs all the help he can get. But then the group that began the game didn’t finish the game. The left side got decimated, leading to Darrisaw and Jackson needing to be taken out. Justin Skule stepped into the LT1 spot while Blake Brandel stepped into the LG2 spot.
Of course, McCarthy’s struggles — and the team’s more broadly — go beyond just an offensive line that didn’t play well at Lambeau. Or, for that matter, an offensive line that couldn’t escape Lambeau at full health.
Indeed, the team is a disaster, one full of bloated contracts for veterans who aren’t playing well alongside youngsters who aren’t living up to their draft slots. Sprinkle in some befuddling coaching moves and there’s no wonder the Vikings are 4-7.
As it relates to where things are going, Coach O’Connell couldn’t offer a ton of clarity. The status of Christian Darrisaw and Donovan Jackson is a mystery moving into a road battle versus Seattle in Week 13: “Yeah, it’s probably too early. Both of those guys will be evaluated.” O’Connell did say that Jackson wanted back in the game, but the decision was made to keep him out. The same can be said of Darrisaw, too.
There was a sliver of optimism within O’Connell’s suggestion that EDGE1 Jonathan Greenard “was close” to playing versus Green Bay, generating some potential to be available for Week 13. But while Greenard is an excellent defender, losing Christian Darrisaw and/or Donovan Jackson makes protecting J.J. McCarthy even more difficult.
Right now, the Vikings’ present play is so awful that it’s undermining the future.
Most obvious, of course, are the injury concerns. Losing a player to injury in the current moment means making a future moment more difficult.
In fairness, Minnesota can’t control injuries (apart from doing their utmost to eat well, stretch well, sleep well, and the various other health strategies to ensure the players’ bodies are ready to roll).
But then there’s lessening confidence about the ability of J.J. McCarthy to become a franchise quarterback. Furthermore, there’s dwindling confidence in Kevin O’Connell. Indeed, what’s taking place within the middle of the 2025 season is generating serious concern about whether the current leadership structure can be trusted for 2026 (and beyond).
As for injuries more broadly, note that safety Josh Metellus was looped into Kevin O’Connell’s updates due to a hurt shoulder. We’ll see if the versatile defender who is a central team leader can roll in Week 13. Pretty commonly, other players get looped into the injury news as the week develops, as well.
Stay tuned for the Christian Darrisaw and Donovan Jackson news. Ideally, both can get out there in Week 13, but the emphasis is shifting away from 2025 and toward 2026. Doing anything to undermine future success — like a player playing at less than 100% — would be tremendously foolish.
