In a shocking turn of events that has sent ripples through the NFL, the Minnesota Vikings have made a stunning roster decision just days before their highly anticipated Week 16 clash against the New York Giants. With the current date being December 20, 2025, and the game set for Sunday, December 21 at MetLife Stadium, the Vikings announced on Friday that their star left tackle, Christian Darrisaw, has been placed on injured reserve. This move effectively sidelines the 2021 draftee for the final three games of the season, giving him time to fully recover from a lingering knee injury that has plagued him since last year.
Darrisaw, who has been in and out of the lineup all season and never fully healthy, will now head into an early offseason. Head coach Kevin O’Connell broke the news during his press conference: “Basically, after a little bit of collaboration amongst Christian Darrisaw and our medical staff, we’ve determined that we’re going to place him on injured reserve. As we worked through it day-to-day this week, felt like in totality, after a lot of dialogue and good discussion, that’s going to be the best thing for Christian.”
The injury saga began in October 2024 when Darrisaw was hit in the knee by a Los Angeles Rams defender during a routine running play, resulting in a torn ACL and MCL that cost him the second half of that season and put his 2025 campaign in serious doubt.
“It’s been a complex injury that he had,” O’Connell added. “I’ve admired the way that Christian has attacked this and wanting to be out there for every possible snap he could be with his teammates. I know he’s going to get off to a great start with his preparation for 2026 and put this behind him. We’re behind him 100% to do so.”
Despite showing up to practice in the summer, Darrisaw missed the first two games of 2025. He made his return in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals at home, but his participation has been inconsistent since. He’s missed several games outright and was pulled early in others, never quite performing at his elite level when on the field.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert noted on Friday, “He recovered well enough to avoid the physically unable to perform list and opened training camp on the active roster, but he sat out the Vikings’ first two games and later revealed he had been told it would take a full year to recover.” Even after that milestone, Darrisaw remained a part-time player, starting 10 games but exiting five early—two by his own choice (Week 5 vs. Cleveland Browns and Week 8 vs. Los Angeles Chargers) and three by coaching decision to manage his workload. The team also gave him extra rest by excusing him from at least one practice day per week, but none of it fully resolved the issue.
Importantly, O’Connell emphasized that Darrisaw didn’t suffer a setback or re-injury; these were normal challenges for such a severe knee issue. “It’s not even just the day-to-day and the week-to-week as he would try to navigate through this season. It goes back to the surgical procedure and then the subsequent rehab that follows. Total dedication to a daily process,” O’Connell said. Teammates recognized his grit, voting him the Ed Block Courage Award winner unanimously. “He is a guy that wants to be out there with his teammates, and has played at such a high level when we’ve had him in there as our left tackle.”
Darrisaw’s absence is a massive blow to Minnesota’s offense. As a key protector, his presence allows the team to isolate him against top rushers, freeing up others for double teams. Without him, the Vikings turn to veteran backup Justin Skule, signed in March as Darrisaw’s understudy. Skule has seen more action than expected this year, but he’s undeniably a step down from the 26-year-old star, who inked a long-term extension in the 2024 offseason.
This bombshell comes at the worst possible time for the Vikings, who face a tough road game against the Giants in Week 16. The New York defense, hungry for a win, could exploit the weakened left side of Minnesota’s line. The Giants surely didn’t anticipate this curveball, potentially shifting the dynamics of what was already billed as a gritty showdown. With the season winding down and these final games meaningless for playoff implications, the Vikings are prioritizing Darrisaw’s long-term health, ensuring he’s “feeling great” for 2026.
There’s no questioning Darrisaw’s toughness, but pushing through risked further damage. As O’Connell put it, the focus now is on “leaving the injury behind him.” Vikings fans, hold tight—this stunning move might sting now, but it sets the stage for a stronger return next year.
