Kevin O'Connell gives update on LT Christian Darrisaw's health that will impact start of 2025 season
The Minnesota Vikings are going to be opening training camp with just two players on the Physically Unable to Perform list and one of them won't be left tackle Christian Darrisaw. Head coach Kevin O'Connell announced only two players will be on the PUP list to start training camp, with Darrisaw, wide receiver Rondale Moore, […]
The Minnesota Vikings are going to be opening training camp with just two players on the Physically Unable to Perform list and one of them won't be left tackle Christian Darrisaw. Head coach Kevin O'Connell announced only two players will be on the PUP list to start training camp, with Darrisaw, wide receiver Rondale Moore, and right guard Will Fries ready to go.
Christian Darrisaw will practice to start training camp
This is a huge factor for the Vikings going into the 2025 season, as they have been notoriously conservative with injuries over the course of O'Connell's tenure. Tight end T.J. Hockenson was treated in that same manner last season when he was recovering from his torn ACL. Now, he did have to wait a month to have surgery to repair it with damage having been done to the MCL as well, but it's noteworthy nonetheless.
With Darrisaw going to be ready to go for practice, it also doesn't mean he will practice in full every single day. They still may take it easy with him, like they did during mandatory minicamp when he took the field on the first day of practice, but didn't return.
"I would expect him to be a part of individual," said O'Connell. "We're obviously not in pads until Monday of next week, but we'll ramp up here with our work starting tomorrow, and he'll be working through individual(s). And eventually, he'll work into some of the combination periods, working across from some of our defensive players. And then we'd like to start progressing him to getting some work in the team periods. When that happens, the timeline will all be predicated on, basically, we have a plan in place, but have to be subject to adapt and adjust based upon how he's responding, but based upon how he's attacked this whole process, which, once again, I cannot give him any more credit. Hopefully I've made that. I've emphasized that enough, because he has been phenomenal. His presence in the building every day. And this is all part of a plan that has been set in motion a long time ago. And we'll see how it goes with him."
With Darrisaw not going on the PUP list, it makes his likelihood to make his 2025 season debut in week one against the Chicago Bears more likely, and that would be huge for young quarterback J.J. McCarthy as he is also set to make his NFL regular season debut.
Darrisaw wasn't the only player who won't be on the PUP list, as both Moore and Fries are healthy enough to practice with their injuries. Moore tore his ACL last year during training camp with some other damage, while Fries broke his lower leg in week five last season. Neither player participated in mandatory minicamp with their recoveries still taking place.
The offense is in really good position going into training camp and the excitement continues to build.
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