In the sport of football, injuries are literally part of the game. However, some of these injuries can be avoided, and this was the case for Minnesota Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw during the final minutes of the first half of Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Rams.
With the score tied at 14, the Vikings lined up on their own three-yard line with 35 seconds to go in the second quarter. But instead of just kneeling and running out the clock, Minnesota called a meaningless run play that resulted in a two-yard gain and an unfortunate injury to Darrisaw.
During the play, a Rams defender fell into the back of Darrisaw's left knee, and the Vikings starting left tackle had to be helped back into the locker room to end the half.
Obviously, hindsight is 20/20, but if Minnesota just wanted to run the clock out, then they should have just kneeled instead of handing the ball off to Aaron Jones.
Teams shouldn't play scared in the NFL because injuries are always going to happen. But teams also have to be smart to help lower the chances of their players getting injured, and the Vikings didn't do that on Thursday.
Now, Minnesota has to hope that Darrisaw wasn't seriously injured, because if he is, their chances of being a serious contender in the NFC this season will be significantly impacted.
The Vikings continue to evaluate Darrisaw, who left the locker room on crutches after his left leg was hit by a Rams defender at the end of the first half Thursday night.
The Minnesota Vikings have taken a massive hit during their Week 8 Thursday night showdown against the Los Angeles Rams, as star left tackle Christian Darrisaw has been ruled out for the remainder of the contest after suffering a left knee injury.
Late in the second quarter, Darrisaw was rolled up on from behind, and had his left leg trapped under Jaylen McCollough as the defensive back made a tackle on Aaron Jones. Darrisaw remained on the turf for several minutes, before limping off the field to the locker room with assistance from trainers. He was replaced in the lineup by David Quessenberry.
Darrisaw is the Vikings' best offensive lineman, so it would be a major loss if he were to miss extended time. Just this past offseason, the No. 23 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Virginia Tech signed a massive four-year extension worth up to $113 million with $77 million guaranteed. It was the most lucrative left tackle contract in terms of AAV, before Darrisaw was eventually surpassed by 11-time Pro Bowler Trent Williams of the San Francisco 49ers.
Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said afterward that his team is “keeping our fingers crossed that we get some positive news” but otherwise wasn't certain about the severity of Darrisaw's injury.
The Vikings had taken possession of the ball at their own 3-yard line, but they had all three of their timeouts. Rather than kneel on the ball to close out the half, O’Connell said he wanted to see if the offense could move into position for a score. The Rams had one timeout, which would have required the Vikings to kneel twice within a narrow space between the line of scrimmage and the end zone.
“They had dime defense on the field, so I thought we could maybe pop a run,” O’Connell said. “Don’t know if we were necessarily targeted versus that group out there, which I think if we are, maybe that ball’s got a chance to [move]. If we get off and rolling with the timeouts we had left at the time, get that first down, then there’s a chance to maybe try to dial some stuff up and not give them any chance at doubling us up there with them starting out the second half.”
Darrisaw, who has been having a Pro Bowl-caliber season, was blocking with 35 seconds remaining in the first half when Rams safety Jaylen McCollough fell into the knee. Team medical officials helped Darrisaw walk directly to the locker room as the Vikings finished out the half. He was replaced by veteran David Quessenberry.
“I think they’ve got some good young rushers and we were trying to do the best we could to make sure we were cognizant of that, with plays we were calling — maybe limiting the menu a little bit to try to get some help over there on the left side. Made a few plays,” O’Connell said. “I thought ‘Quess’ came in and battled. We’ll see what it looks like with CD and ultimately put together a good plan. Regardless of who’s out there, I’ve got a lot of confidence in our guys. But you lose a guy like CD in the middle of the game, game plan’s kind of rolling a little bit outside of the penalties at that point, and we felt it.
“But, once again, no excuse. Next man up and we’ve got to roll.”
Quarterback Sam Darnold echoed that sentiment when asked about losing Darrisaw after the game.
“Yeah, obviously Christian’s a really good player,” Darnold said. “But I would say it’s the same thing [as] when Aaron [Jones] went out a couple games ago — for the next guy to be able to come in and do a great job, that’s what we always count on. We always expect the next guy to step up and do a great job. And I’m very confident in DQ to be able to do that.”
The Vikings will need to hope that Darrisaw's injury isn't as severe as it initially looked. The team's hopes of making a deep playoff run are heavily dependent on his health. With the Vikings struggling to secure a victory on Thursday, fans are left wondering what the future holds for Minnesota if Darrisaw is sidelined for an extended period.
Impact of Darrisaw's Injury on the Vikings' Offense
Losing Darrisaw, who was playing at an elite level, is a massive blow to the Vikings' offense. He has been instrumental in protecting Sam Darnold and opening up running lanes for the Vikings' backs.
The Vikings' offensive line has already been struggling to maintain consistency throughout the season. Now, with Darrisaw out, they will have to rely heavily on their backup left tackle, David Quessenberry.
Quessenberry is a veteran player, but he is not the same caliber of player as Darrisaw. It remains to be seen if he will be able to adequately fill the void left by Darrisaw.
Vikings' Defense Struggles in Loss to Rams
While the Vikings' offense faced a significant obstacle with Darrisaw's injury, their defense also struggled against the Rams. Despite a strong start, the Vikings' defense faltered in the second half, allowing the Rams to score 16 unanswered points.
The Vikings' defensive struggles can be attributed to a number of factors, including the loss of key players like Blake Cashman and the Rams' offensive scheme.
The Rams' offense, led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, was able to exploit the Vikings' defense by targeting the middle of the field. This was particularly effective in the absence of Cashman, who had been a key player in the Vikings' defense.
Vikings' Offense Shows Promise Despite Loss
Despite the loss to the Rams and the injury to Darrisaw, the Vikings' offense showed some promise. The Vikings' offense was able to move the ball consistently, but they struggled to finish drives in the red zone.
Quarterback Sam Darnold had a good game, throwing for 240 yards and two touchdowns. But, he suffered three sacks for losses of 28 yards.
Receiver Justin Jefferson continued his dominant season, hauling in eight catches for 115 yards. But the Vikings' running game struggled to find success against the Rams' defense.
Vikings' Week 9 Matchup with Colts
The Vikings will look to rebound from their loss to the Rams when they host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football in a Week 9 game that was flexed.
The Vikings' offense will need to find a way to overcome the loss of Darrisaw, while their defense will need to shore up their weaknesses against the Colts' offense.
Conclusion: Vikings' Future Uncertain After Loss and Injury
The Vikings' loss to the Rams, coupled with the injury to Darrisaw, raises questions about the team's future. The Vikings will need to hope that Darrisaw's injury is not as severe as it initially looked. If he is sidelined for an extended period, the Vikings' chances of making a deep playoff run will be significantly impacted.
The Vikings' Week 9 matchup against the Colts will be a good test for the team to see how they will respond to the loss and the injury.
