Minnesota Vikings Offensive Line Returns to Practice… with Bad News

It’s been a difficult start to the 2025 Minnesota Vikings season, in large part due to the extreme number of roster blows they’ve dealt, either via injury, illness or suspension.

Then, there’s the offensive line, where arguable their most desperate injury issues exist; starting with Christian Darrisaw, who has yet to be active. He continues to recover from season-ending knee surgery in 2024.

Hopes were high that the 2021 first round pick would be ready for the Vikings’ opener in Chicago. That’s not how reality played out, and now Darrisaw enters week three still questionable.

In the meantime, week two injuries have caused additional stress in the offensive trenches, newly acquired Ryan Kelly left with a concussion. To make matters worse, so did Darrisaw’s replacement, Justin Skule.

Those departures left an injured JJ McCarthy to finish the second game of his NFL career protected by the Vikings’ third-string left tackle and backup center. Not ideal…

Full Minnesota Vikings starting offensive line at practice Friday

On Friday, however — at the Vikings’ final full practice of the week leading up to their week three contest against the Cincinnati Bengals — the entire starting offensive front was participating at practice. ESPN’s Kevin Seifert was one of the first to spot all five big men, which he reported on Twitter (X).

Vikings C Ryan Kelly and LT Justin Skule, both of whom have been in concussion protocol, were on the practice field today. Doesn’t mean they have been cleared but it’s progress. Christian Darrisaw (knee) was out there as well.

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) September 19, 2025

Unfortunately, Kelly and Skule — who are both recovering from concussions suffered last week — were ruled out shortly after Kevin’s tweet above. Christian Darrisaw got a full practice in on Wednesday, before receiving a scheduled day off on Thursday.

His return Friday was forecasted by the Vikings to reporters, so his participation was not a surprise. All week long, there’s been a quiet confidence amongst media that Darrisaw could make his 2025 debut against the Bengals. It’s worth noting, however, that Christian did not sound all that confident, speaking with media after practice.

Friday’s official Vikings injury report released

Week three will not be the first time we get to see the projected starting offensive line play together in 2025. Friday’s Minnesota Vikings injury report also listed Darrisaw, Austin Keys, Harrison Smith and Andrew Van Ginkel as questionable.

Final #CINvsMIN injury report

OUT: Ryan Kelly, J.J. McCarthy and Justin Skule

QUESTIONABLE: Christian Darrisaw, Austin Keys, Harrison Smith and Andrew Van Ginkel pic.twitter.com/DiUeskDwxX

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 19, 2025

Defensively, we are yet to see Harrison Smith (illness) take the field. Linebacker Blake Cashman (hamstring) didn’t even last a game. Neither did Jeff Okudah (concussion). In more positive news, it appears Okudah will return on Sunday.

The absences on defense have hurt, no doubt, but the Vikings’ biggest problems in that department have come on offense. We all know about JJ McCarthy’s (ankle) injury, who will now be replaced by Carson Wentz.

But at the skill positions, Jordan Addison still has one game remaining on his three-game suspension, and Aaron Jones (hamstring) just went on injured reserve, where he is obligated to remain for three more weeks.