The Minnesota Vikings are at an important juncture in their season. The team sitting below .500 after seven games, at 3-4: not an ideal spot, but one that certainly recoverable.
But two more losses could mean that the team becomes essentially removed from playoff contention altogether, barring a borderline miracle.
Perhaps even more noteworthy, the team are going with quarterback JJ McCarthy, who has now seemingly fully recovered from his high ankle sprain suffered in week 2, ahead of backup, Carson Wentz.
A key to McCarthy’s success will be his protection on the offensive line – a unit that has been very banged up for Minnesota over the course of the season so far.
The Vikings Have Suffered Multiple Injuries On The Offensive Line
Center, Ryan Kelly is on injured reserve, and both bookend tackles, Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill, have been battling knee injuries. O’Neill originally suffered his during the first London game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, whilst Darrisaw is managing to gradually return from an ACL tear suffered last October in 2024.
Both have been listed officially questionable for Sunday’s all-important divisional game at the Detroit Lions, but the good news is that – per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert – head coach, Kevin O’Connell is optimistic that both will be able to participate come the weekend.
“O’Connell sounds optimistic about Darrisaw and O’Neill getting to Sunday.” Seifert reported in a post on X on Sunday.
O’Neill missed last Thursday’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, whilst Darrisaw started the match but was forced to have his night end early due to an aggravation of the same knee injury that saw him miss half of last season and the start of this one.
Vikings Head Coach ‘Optimistic’ On Both OT’s Return
The Vikings have struggled mightily in pass protection through the first seven games of the season. The team rank 31st in both sacks allowed per game at 4, and QB sacked percentage at 11.34%.
When healthy, both O’Neill and Darrisaw remain two of the better bookend tackles in the game. The former Pittsburgh man, O’Neill is a two-time Pro-Bowler, and has been a mainstay anchor on the line for the best part of the last decade.
Darrisaw, meanwhile, was quietly turning into one of the best left tackles in football last season before his ACL tear cut short what was looking to be another very promising season in 2024, having just been signed to a four year, $104 million extension earlier that offseason.
When having made their way onto the field in 2025, both have played well. Darrisaw has not quite been at his tip-top level, as he continues to work his way back fully from the knee injury – although he still has managed a very respectable 63.6 grade from Pro Football Focus on the year.
And O’Neill has once again been excellent, garnering a 74.7 grade from PFF, which ranks him as a top 20 offensive tackle in football this season.
Kevin O’Connell Dishes Out Positive Injury News Ahead Of Week 9