MN Vikings Get Good News (Possibly) on Key Injury

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah need to do everything in their power, over the next handful of weeks, to figure out whether or not JJ McCarthy is their quarterback of their future.

We know the Minnesota Vikings are going to bring in a veteran QB for 2026… but it’s yet to be determined what caliber of quarterback the new guy will be. Is O’Connell so over the young QB experiment that he begs Kwesi to swing big… say, for Joe Burrow?

Or, are we looking at another 2024 offseason scenario, where KOC is in search of an underachieving young veteran, who could be competent if things go right, but could also be pushed by McCarthy, if the redshirt rookie does indeed take positive steps in his development, entering 2026?

If the Vikings are trying to find Sam Darnold 2.0, then maybe they have their targets set on another 49er rehab project, in Mac Jones? For now, however, Minnesota coaches and executives are better off staying in the moment.

Because what this team needs, in the present, is a VERY good look at JJ McCarthy. And to do that, they need competent offensive line play, a dream that’s been hard to realize for much of the season.

Christian Darrisaw returns to MN Vikings practice

That’s why it was so worrisome on Thursday, when the Vikings’ best offensive lineman — Christian Darrisaw — missed practice for the second-straight day, as he continues to work his way back from midseason surgery that ended his 2024 season.

His absence earlier in the week meant that, if Christian wasn’t practicing at some capacity or another on Friday, he was extremely unlikely to play in Arlington on Sunday Night Football. Thankfully, the 26-year-old did return to the TCO Performance practice fields today, thought it was in a “limited” fashion.

Final #MINvsDAL injury report

QUESTIONABLE: Ty Chandler* and Christian Darrisaw

*Currently in 21-day return to practice window pic.twitter.com/O6Sga4gVSt

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 12, 2025

Related: Cowboys Star Cleared for MN Vikings Game

O’Connell told media at his press conference on Friday that the Minnesota Vikings are hopeful Christian Darrisaw will be able to start Sunday night, but that they have to see how his knee responds to today’s limited practice, following treatment.

Darrisaw has started 10 of the Vikings’ 13 games this season, after sitting out the first two. Still, the process has been anything but clean. Christian hasn’t practice on a Wednesday all season and has been a staple on the weekly injury reports.

He’s also pulled himself out of games, when he’s personally felt like like he’s putting too much strain on that surgically repaired knee.

Vikings trying to figure out their future QB situation

With or without their stud left tackle, the Minnesota Vikings are preparing for what should be a huge game this weekend against the Dallas Cowboys. And technically, a win could keep their playoff hopes alive.

Unfortunately, if either the Lions (vs Rams) or Bears (vs Browns) win this week, then even victory at Jerry World won’t stop the Vikings them from being mathematically eliminated from the 2025 postseason.

Related: Vikings News: Jordan Addison Bodycam Arrest Footage Surfaces

Nonetheless, there are a ton of reasons to watch on Sunday night — and for the final four games of the regular season — most of which stem from the quarterback position, which is undoubtedly this organization’s No. 1 focus as we finish out the disappointing year.

Having Christian Darrisaw protecting JJ McCarthy’s blindside against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football would be a good place to start.