Vikings LT Christian Darrisaw returns to the field for the first time since his knee injury.

Christian Darrisaw’s Triumphant Return: Vikings Left Tackle Back in Action After Season-Ending Knee Injury

When the Minnesota Vikings took the field for their first minicamp practice on June 10, 2025, all eyes were on their All-Pro left tackle, Christian Darrisaw. The towering 6-foot-5 lineman, whose breakout 2024 season was cut short by a brutal knee injury in Week 8, was seen participating in individual drills for the first time since suffering torn ACL and MCL ligaments against the Los Angeles Rams on October 24, 2024.

Darrisaw’s injury was a devastating blow not only to his personal momentum—he had started 46 of 48 regular-season games since being drafted 23rd overall in 2021—but also to the Vikings’ offensive line stability. Prior to his injury, the 26-year-old was widely regarded as one of the league’s premier blindside protectors, earning Pro Football Focus grades that ranked him among the top tackles in the NFL.

In the wake of the injury, Minnesota made a bold move at the trade deadline, acquiring veteran tackle Cam Robinson from the Jacksonville Jaguars to fill the void left by Darrisaw’s absence. Robinson started the remainder of the 2024 campaign in place of Darrisaw, but struggled to replicate the same level of dominance, illustrating just how vital Darrisaw had been to the Vikings’ offensive identity.

Yet the Vikings’ front office showed faith in their young star by granting Darrisaw a lucrative contract extension last offseason. That vote of confidence proved prescient: his early-season play in 2024 before the injury suggested he was on pace for his first Pro Bowl nod. His return to the practice field, therefore, represents not only a personal milestone but also a pivotal moment for a franchise eager to bolster its offensive tackle tandem alongside Brian O’Neill.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell, who has consistently praised Darrisaw’s work ethic throughout his rehabilitation, was visibly encouraged by his presence at minicamp. “Christian has absolutely knocked it out of the park so far,” O’Connell remarked at voluntary offseason workouts in April, noting that the fifth-year veteran had “really attacked” his rehab protocols without setbacks.

On June 10, Darrisaw donned a sturdy brace on his left knee and moved through the early-positioning and footwork drills under the watchful eyes of the Vikings’ training staff. While the work was limited to individual, non-contact maneuvers—no eight- or eleven-on-eleven reps yet—it was nonetheless significant. It marked his first on-field action since he was carted off in Los Angeles nearly eight months earlier.

Medical teams typically hesitate to clear linemen for full-speed drills less than eight months after such serious knee injuries, especially for players whose game relies heavily on lower-body power and lateral agility. Yet Darrisaw’s progress timeline has followed an “ideal” recovery curve, bypassing any reported complications or setbacks in his range-of-motion and strength benchmarks.

For the Vikings’ young quarterback J.J. McCarthy, having Darrisaw back on the left edge cannot be overstated. During Darrisaw’s absence, McCarthy faced heightened pass-rush pressure, often seeing defenders collapse the pocket from his blind side. Reuniting the Pro Bowl-caliber left tackle with his backfield running mate will allow Minnesota to sustain a more balanced offense, keeping both the run and pass games more effective.

Offseason additions such as swing tackle Justin Skule and interior reinforcements Ryan Kelly and Will Fries have fortified the line depth, but none possess Darrisaw’s combination of athleticism and technique. His return not only stabilizes the starting five but also allows the Vikings to rely less on journeyman backups, maintaining continuity as they prepare to contend in the NFC North.

Looking ahead, the timeline for Darrisaw’s full clearance remains tentative. While individual drills are encouraging, the next benchmarks will include 11-on-11 team practices, padded workouts at training camp in July, and, ultimately, a game-speed simulation in a preseason contest. Barring any setbacks, the Vikings could activate him off the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list prior to the regular-season opener on September 8 in Chicago.

Conclusion

Christian Darrisaw’s first day back on the practice field at Vikings minicamp is more than a hopeful headline—it’s a tangible indicator of his resilience, work ethic, and the medical staff’s diligent rehabilitation protocols. His return carries profound implications for both individual aspirations and team ambitions. As Darrisaw progresses through the remaining offseason milestones, Vikings fans will watch closely, eager to see the return of a player whose presence is synonymous with Minnesota’s offensive prowess. If his early minicamp work is any barometer, the franchise’s blindside anchor is well on his way to reclaiming his Pro Bowl form and anchoring one of the NFL’s most formidable offensive lines in 2025.