Christian Darrisaw Injury Update: Will the Vikings offensive tackle play in the Bears clash tonight?

Christian Darrisaw’s availability is a key storyline as the Minnesota Vikings prepare to face the Chicago Bears in Monday night’s opener. Listed as questionable with a knee issue, Darrisaw has been working through a long rehab process after a major knee injury last season, and his status remains uncertain heading into kick-off.

The long road back

Darrisaw tore both his ACL and MCL last October, an injury that required an extensive recovery timeline and a carefully managed return to football activities. According to the team report, he continues to ramp up his recovery and has been gradually increasing practice reps as he works back toward full game readiness.

Practice note: progress, but not a guarantee

Late in the week Christian Darrisaw managed to log a couple of full practices to close out the week — a positive sign for his progression. Despite those full sessions, the Vikings listed him as questionable for Monday night, reflecting the team’s caution after such a significant knee injury. That designation means the staff still must evaluate how he responds in pregame warmups and whether he’s ready for the physical demands of starting at left tackle.

If Darrisaw can’t go: Justin Skule the expected fill-in

Should the Vikings rule Darrisaw out, Justin Skule would be the logical replacement at left tackle. Skule would be asked to handle the edge protection duties against a Bears front that will look to test Minnesota’s pass protection and create pressure on the quarterback. The potential absence of Christian Darrisaw would force coordinator adjustments and could impact both the Vikings’ pass-blocking schemes and run-game dynamics.

Why Christian Darrisaw’s status matters

Left tackle is one of the most consequential positions on a roster — particularly in matchups where mobile quarterbacks or heavy pass rushers can dictate the game. Darrisaw’s presence stabilizes the left side of the line and allows the Vikings to use more varied protection and run concepts. Even if he is limited, any restriction could reduce his snap count or alter game-plan tendencies to shield the knee from heavy contact.

What to watch before kickoff

Watch for the Vikings’ pregame participation report and Christian Darrisaw’s appearance in warmups. Those indicators will give the clearest hint about whether Minnesota trusts the knee for a full workload or will lean on Skule and rotation plans to fill the void.