Losing due to a poor refereeing decision is painful, but the five-win Minnesota Vikings can recover from that setback. However, the most significant blow from Thursday Night Football came from the injury to star left tackle Christian Darrisaw.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell made the unexpected choice to call a run play instead of simply kneeling to end the first half, which resulted in Darrisaw’s injury.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Darrisaw will need season-ending knee surgery, a devastating blow for the team. Now, the Vikings must devise a plan to move forward without their key left tackle.
Darrisaw had an impressive start to the season after signing a hefty extension, allowing only two sacks and ten pressures over the first seven games.
He has also been a vital contributor to the Vikings’ rushing attack, earning the eighth-highest run-blocking grade from PFF.
The Vikings need to explore their options quickly. Backup David Quessenberry struggled after stepping in, with the Los Angeles Rams’ defense targeting him; PFF recorded two pressures and one hit allowed, giving him a poor 46.7 pass-blocking grade.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah may need to look for another tackle through free agency or a trade before the NFL deadline on November 5. This talented Vikings team cannot afford to let one injury derail their season, regardless of Darrisaw’s importance.
However, finding quality starting tackles is challenging, as they are not readily available. Adofo-Mensah could consider veterans like Donovan Smith, Charles Leno, or David Bakhtiari, the latter having had injury issues but still performing at an All-Pro level when healthy.
The Vikings will have a mini-bye to evaluate their options before facing the Indianapolis Colts in Week 9, with Quessenberry likely stepping in for Darrisaw in the meantime.
