Christian Darrisaw, Minnesota Vikings
Getty
Christian Darrisaw #71 of the Minnesota Vikings is helped off the field against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Minnesota Vikings didn’t get a smooth recovery of LT Christian Darrisaw from his 2024 ACL tear quite questionably in 2025.
PurplePTSD’s Janik Eckhardt laid it out plainly to understand just how much the injury hampered Darrisaw a season later.
“Darrisaw initially suffered the injury in October of 2024 when a Rams defender hit him in the knee and knocked him out for the remainder of the campaign. He returned to practice in training camp and was back in the lineup in Week 3, about 11 months after the injury.
That timeline didn’t allow him to leave his injury behind him. He skipped Thursday’s practices all season and was fairly limited, playing in only 10 games. Of those ten contests, he finished only six.”
At the NFL’s annual league meetings last week, head coach Kevin O’Connell provided some updates.
Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell Provides Updates on Christian Darrisaw Injury
Minnesota Vikings
GettyMINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – NOVEMBER 09: Christian Darrisaw #71 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on after the game against the Baltimore Ravens at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 09, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
O’Connell provided some positive updates regarding Christian Darrisaw’s recovery process.
“I was proud of the way Christian battled through the offseason and the recovery portion. But then it was frustrating for him at times because he did put in all that work, all that tireless work, that in his mind, ‘Hey, I want to move past this’. But with an injury like that, sometimes time is truly the only thing that will ultimately get us to where we want to get to.
And I do believe we’re at that point now. He’s having a really good offseason. And what that looks like, what his daily practice schedule and plan looks like. We’re going to do what we think is best to get Christian ready to play 17 games and feel at his absolute best to do so.”
The Vikings would obviously love for Darrisaw to return to form. When healthy, he is a top-5 left tackle in the NFL, and he is paid as such.
Minnesota Should Consider Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq at 18th Overall
Vikings, Kenyon Sadiq
GettyEUGENE, OREGON – DECEMBER 20: Kenyon Sadiq #18 of the Oregon Ducks celebrates after defeating the James Madison Dukes during the 2025 College Football Playoff First Round Game at Autzen Stadium on December 20, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)
The Vikings will have a need at tight end after the 2026 season. They’ve recently altered the contract of T.J. Hockenson to reduce his price and the length of his contract. Therefore, he will be a free agent in 2027.
Minnesota could look to go against prioritizing a Day 1 contributor in favor of selecting the best player available. That could be Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq.
This would line up with what Vikings’ Interim GM Rob Brzezinski said regarding drafting for need versus drafting the best player available.
“I think it’s the biggest reason why a lot of players fail in this business… You force a need. And for a lot of reasons it doesn’t work out, and you pass on a player of higher ability for a position of need… it may be old school, but if you get your board set right, and look for the best player available, I think it’s going to lead you down the right path.”
Sadiq would provide the Vikings with a true vertical threat with league-top TE upside. It’s known that Kyler Murray loves throwing to tight ends, as he made Trey McBride one of the best in the league in his final years with the Cardinals.