One underrated reason the Minnesota Vikings' offense struggled so much in 2025 was because of Christian Darrisaw's health. The left tackle never seemed fully recovered from his ACL/MCL tear in 2024, playing only 10 games while his week-to-week availability was always in question.
It appeared that he was much more comfortable over the past month in OTAs and minicamp, providing optimism that the injury is behind him. Now, the expectation is that he will return to his pre-injury form and live up to the lucrative contract he signed prior to the 2024 season.
Zachary Pereles of CBS Sports listed Darrisaw as his breakout candidate for the Vikings, believing that a full recovery can help him finally live up to his potential.
If you ask Vikings fans, they'd probably say it's past time for Christian Darrisaw to become a star. The left tackle showcases elite talent when he's on the field. The issue is he hasn't been on the field enough: zero full seasons. He has played in just 17 games total the past two seasons after signing a four-year, $113 million extension in July 2024. He then tore his ACL and MCL in October and struggled with knee issues for seemingly all of 2025. He's an absolute road grader in the run game; since Darrisaw arrived in 2021, the Vikings have a 46% rushing success rate with him on the field and a 41% rushing success rate without him. In 2025, that would have been the difference between the NFL's 17th-best rushing attack and its 31st-best rushing attack.
Minnesota appears poised to lean into its running game more this year as well, making it paramount that Darrisaw is back to normal. If he can stay healthy, the Vikings are ready for him to show the league he's one of the best left tackles in the NFL.
It appeared that he was much more comfortable over the past month in OTAs and minicamp, providing optimism that the injury is behind him. Now, the expectation is that he will return to his pre-injury form and live up to the lucrative contract he signed prior to the 2024 season.
Zachary Pereles of CBS Sports listed Darrisaw as his breakout candidate for the Vikings, believing that a full recovery can help him finally live up to his potential.
If you ask Vikings fans, they'd probably say it's past time for Christian Darrisaw to become a star. The left tackle showcases elite talent when he's on the field. The issue is he hasn't been on the field enough: zero full seasons. He has played in just 17 games total the past two seasons after signing a four-year, $113 million extension in July 2024. He then tore his ACL and MCL in October and struggled with knee issues for seemingly all of 2025. He's an absolute road grader in the run game; since Darrisaw arrived in 2021, the Vikings have a 46% rushing success rate with him on the field and a 41% rushing success rate without him. In 2025, that would have been the difference between the NFL's 17th-best rushing attack and its 31st-best rushing attack.
Minnesota appears poised to lean into its running game more this year as well, making it paramount that Darrisaw is back to normal. If he can stay healthy, the Vikings are ready for him to show the league he's one of the best left tackles in the NFL.
5 months ago
