Minnesota Vikings May Already Have Their New Left Tackle on Roster

The Minnesota Vikings lost an ugly game to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football. They also lost starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw for the season. It would be impossible to expect another player to replace his All-Pro level abilities during the season. But the NFL doesn’t wait for injuries. Now, Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah must decide how the Vikings are going to move forward at left tackle.

There are options on the free agent market. The Vikings are also expected to be buyers, before the trade deadline, and could add a left tackle to their shopping list. But they only have one week before they’ll take the field again, and running David Quessenberry back out there is not an option worth considering.

Line shuffles as Minnesota Vikings replace Christian Darrisaw

This isn’t the first time that Christian Darrisaw has missed time. He has never made it through a full season, since being drafted 23rd overall in 2021. So replacing his production midseason, is nothing new. But he’s also never been this dominant, either.

Previously it has been Blake Brandel to step in, and another offensive line activation could free him up to slide back over. Matthew Coller seems to think that’s the path forward as he suggested on a recent Purple Insider episode.

“I’ll tell ya the one that sounds like it’s the most clear. Of the three different options, the first one is, in my mind, to put Dalton Risner at left guard and then move Blake Brandel over to left tackle. That’s the one that makes the most sense to me because Brandel came up as a left tackle in this league. He’s a starting caliber player. He has played over 270 snaps at left tackle, in 2022. If you remember, the Buffalo game, Darrisaw went out of that game and Brandel came in and saved the day. Slowed down the Buffalo pass rush. He is a capable starting offensive lineman who has a lot of experience at left tackle.

Coller’s suggestion is certainly the most straightforward option for Kevin O’Connell. Brandel has already stepped in for Darrisaw and knows the responsibilities. It’s unfortunate that Risner starting doesn’t send Ed Ingram to the bench, but the veteran has his own warts too. This is an offensive line configuration we saw last year, and would at least be a competent group, on paper.

Darrisaw’s injury hurts Sam Darnold the most. The Minnesota Vikings quarterback has already been sacked the 2nd most times of any QB in the league (21), behind only Deshaun Watson (33). He has held onto the football for far too long this season, and making a tweak there could help him find better situations moving forward.

The Vikings will need to first activate Risner heading into their game against the Indianapolis Colts. Where Brandel lines up throughout practice this week will give us every indication as to what the plan moving forward will look like.