3 Questions the Vikings Have Yet to Answer
Despite the 14-3 record in the 2024 campaign, the Minnesota Vikings enter 2025 with low expectations. There are countless reasons for that, but the 9.5 win total projected by oddsmakers currently ranks the club third in the division.
3 Questions the Vikings Have Yet to Answer
There are still some unanswered questions for the upcoming season.
Can Christian Darrisaw Play in Week 1?
Christian Darrisaw suffered his season-ending knee injury last October. He was hit in the knee on a standard play and suffered a torn ACL and MCL. Surprisingly, he participated in some drills in minicamp, and he ramped up his workload throughout training camp.
The season opener is now only nine days away, and we have no idea if the star blocker is available to face the Chicago Bears. Having him protect J.J. McCarthy’s blindside would obviously be a big boost for the young passer, who needs all the confidence in the world, and knowing he’s protected certainly helps.
If Darrisaw can’t go, the Vikings will pivot to one of Blake Brandel, who started his career as a tackle but has recently played guard, Walter Rouse, a sophomore blocker, and Justin Skule, who was added in March to serve as the backup swing tackle.
We’ll know more once the Vikings release their injury report next week.
Is J.J. McCarthy Good?
Without a doubt, THE question in the Vikings universe is whether McCarthy is actually good? The first-year starter fended off rumors that Sam Darnold could be retained, and he survived the Aaron Rodgers sweepstakes.
He’s Minnesota’s QB1 and will start his first career game versus the Bears. The difference between him looking like a Pro Bowler and him playing at a backup level will be the difference between the Vikings competing for a Super Bowl and watching January football from Cancun.
And not only this year, the Vikings have built their roster for a future around him, and they will go as far as he’ll take them. It’s essential to note that the stacked 2025 squad doesn’t require him to be Superman to be a good football team, but he needs to be solid, nonetheless.
Is This the Plan at CB?
The Vikings have made the strange decision to hand Jeff Okudah a mostly uncontested CB3 spot that will require him to be on the field for about half the defensive snaps, even more if either Byron Murphy Jr. or Isaiah Rodgers suffer injuries.
That is odd because the corner has struggled with injuries in his own right, and his play, when available, hasn’t been that great. If Okudah can’t get the job done, the Vikings would have to lean on sophomore Dwight McGlothern or practice squad veteran Fabian Moreau. Throw in rookie Zemaiah Vaughn, who’s also on the practice squad, and that’s all the employed corners.
Fans have been begging the front office to add another free agent (or pull off a trade) for months, but the decision-makers haven’t shown any urgency. If the 2025 season fails and it was not McCarthy’s fault, the cornerbacks are the other most likely culprits.