Initial Week 1 MN Vikings Injury Report Raises Serious Questions

We are now just four days away from the Minnesota Vikings kicking off their regular season against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football.

J.J. McCarthy is locked and loaded under center as the new starting quarterback, as Kevin O’Connell & Co prepare to usher in a new era. This team has Super Bowl aspirations, but for that to happen, they’ll need to stay healthy, especially in their top 22.

Murky first injury report for Minnesota Vikings

That’s been a problem during training camp, but earlier in the week, O’Connell suggested a cleaner bill of Vikings health now that we are into the first week of the regular season.

At the time, it was big news. Because for the last month, Minnesota has been without (OLB) Andrew Van Ginkel and (S) Harrison Smith, not to mention (LT) Christian Darrisaw, who like his QB, is recovering from 2024 season-ending knee surgery. But all three participated in the weekly walkthroughs Wednesday.

That seemed to bode well for their Week 1 availability. But then on Thursday afternoon, the Minnesota Vikings’ first injury report of the 2025 season dropped, and it raises all sorts of questions.

The #Vikings first injury report of the 2025 season pic.twitter.com/mZmPqZzE3y

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 4, 2025

The expected names are on the injury report. Unfortunately they don’t all have the expected designations. Of the guys named above, Van Ginkel was the only practice participant on Thursday. But Darrisaw and Smith sat out (DNP).

First injury report of the season brings more questions than answers

Jalen Nailor underwent a surgical procedure just a week ago. His hand injury was not expected to be serious, but it did require a procedure to help speed up recovery. Meanwhile, Thielen has supplanted him on the depth chart, but the offense still needs him to produce while Jordan Addison serves his suspension.

Until we hear differently, the expectation is that Christian Darrisaw will be the Minnesota Vikings starting left tackle on Monday night in Chicago, but his quotes Wednesday do make you wonder if they might use extra caution and sit him out.

His DNP status Thursday did not help lift that fog. If he sits out Friday, however, his likelihood to play vs the Bears goes way down. The Vikings will have additional injury reports published each of the next few days, as we lead up to Monday.

Related: MN Vikings First Depth Chart Reveals Some Answers, More Questions

With Van Ginkel in the clear, all eyes are now on former first round draft picks Christian Darrisaw and Harrison Smith who now must match his intensity. What exactly is ailing Smith continues to evade any public reporting. If he isn’t practicing Friday, expect that to change.

Zavier Scott was a candidate to bump Ty Chandler from the roster entirely. His late preseason ankle injury, however, continues to hold him back. We’ll see if that changes as the week goes on too. It’s also notable that Justin Jefferson was not anywhere to be found on the injury report.

That’s not surprising, but it is a relief, given he missed most of training camp and knowing how much hamstring injuries tend to linger.