MN Vikings Kick Off Training Camp with Big Time News on the Injury Front

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Christian Darrisaw - Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings are back at TCO Performance Center for the start of 2025 training camp this week. That’s right, football is back and I cannot remember a season in recent memory where fans have been more excited than they are today.

But just like any other season and every other team, in order for the Vikings to reach their ceiling this year, the best players on their roster need to stay healthy and produce to their capabilities. We’ve seen injuries derail promising teams in the past, and there’s no doubt the 2025 Vikings have plenty of injury concerns entering camp.

Christian Darrisaw played just seven games in 2024, after he blew out his knee in LA against the Rams. After surgery, there are a lot of questions surrounding whether or not he will be ready for the start of the regular season.

The same can be said for two MN Vikings newcomers, top incoming free agent (RG) Will Fries, who fractured his tibia in week 5 last year. Another nube entering camp limited due to injury is new depth wide receiver, Rondale Moore, a former 2nd round pick out of Purdue, another guy who lost all of 2024 to a knee injury.

Minnesota Vikings lead 2025 training camp with good news on the injury front

Tuesday afternoon, however, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell met with reporters to kick off training camp, and one of his first orders of business was a good news update on the injury front, where he reported that none of the three key pieces above are expected to be placed on the “Physically Unable to Perform” (PUP) list.

“Christian Darrisaw, Rondale Moore, Will Fries all not going on PUP to start [training camp]. I want to highlight the work they put in this summer, to put themselves into a position to be out on the grass practicing, all in different capacities, but we are very pleased with where those guys are at, and their timelines to fully returning to daily participation.

We have great plans on the calendar for those guys and cannot wait to see that come to fruition. But once again, just want to highlight the work those guys put in throughout the offseason to put themselves in this position.”

Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell speaking with reporters Tuesday

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This is unbelievably good news for the Minnesota Vikings, who in case you forgot, are breaking in a new quarterback this season. If JJ McCarthy is going to have success in his first year as an NFL starting quarterback, he will undoubtedly need his offensive line and wide receiving crew at or near full-strength.

If placed on the reserve/PUP list at the end of training camp, a player is not allowed to go back on his team’s active roster until after week four of the regular season. Instead, it appears the organization’s bet in its training staff may payoff in dividends.

Losing elite offensive linemen for the first four weeks of the season could be devastating to the development of their 22-year-old former top 10 pick (who’s coming off a season-ending injury of his own).

Vikings, JJ McCarthy need Christian Darrisaw and Will Fries to play ASAP

Christian Darrisaw and Will Fries are two of the best players in the league at their positions, and Ryan Kelly is a clear upgrade over Garrett Bradbury. That’s why, on paper, the Vikings’ OL looks vastly improved compared to 2024.

But without Darrisaw and/or Fries, this offensive line will look like a shell of what it does on paper, if those guys are healthy. Thus, the sooner Minnesota can get Fries and Darrisaw back to full strength, the better.

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And from the sounds of it, they expect that to be sometime before week five of the upcoming regular season. Otherwise, it would behoove the Vikings to use the PUP list, in order to regain their roster spot for camp.

Obviously, most of the attention over the next couple months will be focused around their redshirt rookie QB. And the hype surrounding McCarthy is currently at an all-time high.

Don’t expect that to slow down between now and when the Vikings first take the regular season field on Monday Night Football, September 8, vs the Chicago Bears.

The more JJ McCarthy hangs around teammates and coaches, he will only gain the support of everyone in Eagan, due to his incessant work ethic and beyond-his-age leadership abilities, not to mention his “sneaky” big arm and incredible efficiency as a passer.

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