Tag: christian darrisaw

Zulgad: Dalton Risner’s exit (so far) leaves questions for the Vikings at guard

The offensive line will be key for the Vikings, especially if they have a rookie quarterback. Dalton Risner’s future leaves questions.

The Minnesota Vikings appeared to have found a solution at left guard last season when veteran Dalton Risner took over for Ezra Cleveland after Cleveland was dealt to the Jacksonville Jaguars at the trade deadline. Cleveland was set to become a free agent, and the Vikings’ plan to let him walk landed Risner a one-year, $4 million contract in September.

Risner, a second-round pick of Denver in 2019 who spent his first four seasons with the Broncos, started the final 11 games of the season. His performance was often solid but never spectacular.

He finished with a 57.1 ranking from Pro Football Focus, placing him 47th among 83 qualified guards. Risner always has been better as a pass protector than a run blocker and that was the case again. He was 22nd in pass pro and 66th in run blocking.

A day after the NFL’s negotiating window, Dalton posted this message on X:

Nearly a month later, the 28-year-old Dalton remains unsigned. If he isn’t going to return to the Vikings, what does the team plan to do to replace him?

There are four guards currently on the roster, including starting right guard Ed Ingram as well as first-year players Tyrese Robinson and Henry Byrd. Robinson and Byrd signed futures contracts with Minnesota in January. The starting left guard right now would be Blake Brandel, a sixth-round pick by the Vikings in 2020 out of Oregon. Brandel, who is 6-foot-7, 315 pounds, has played in 39 games over three seasons and made five starts.

He was primarily a left tackle at Oregon and started three games at that spot for the injured Christian Darrisaw in 2022. The Vikings are set at the tackle spots with Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill, but the guard positions are a different story. That’s why it was notable that Brandel got two late-season starts in 2023 on the right side in place of the injured Ingram.

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell has spoken highly of Brandel and praised his ability to play multiple spots.

That praise was backed up in March when Brandel, a restricted free agent, was signed to a three-year, $9.5 million contract that reportedly includes $4.75 million in guarantees. This is far from breaking the bank but it also serves as an indication of how the Vikings feel about him and his potential.

As they did with Ingram in the 2022 draft, the Vikings could look to this month’s draft to try to find their left guard, or they could wait until Risner’s price tag falls, as it did a year ago.

Those moves both carry plenty of risk, considering Ingram’s struggles served as a reminder of just how difficult it can be to step into a starting job, and Risner could decide to sign with another team. Brandel also isn’t a sure thing, but it’s become pretty clear that general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and coach Kevin O’Connell don’t have much desire to spend at a position where the top players are now getting “a bag,” as Risner stated.

Considering the importance of protecting the investment the Vikings might be making at quarterback, this logic either seems to be flawed or serves as an indication that Brandel is ready to become a starter. Either way, it looks like a risk the Vikings’ brass is willing to take.

Christian Darrisaw recognized as a top tackle in PFF 101

Christian Darrisaw is seen as a top tackle in the NFL according to PFF

PFF released their top 101 players in the league ahead of this year’s highly expected free agency period. The fun of rankings such as this one is seeing the top players at each position, including those that may sometimes get overlooked by the casual viewer. On their list, PFF listed out the top eight offensive tackles in the NFL, including Minnesota Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw.

Darrisaw ranked as the seventh-best tackle and the 92nd-best overall player.

Only Tyron Smith and Tristan Wirfs earned better PFF pass-blocking grades than Darrisaw this season, and injuries causing him to play in only 15 games also didn’t help his cause. He has nevertheless solidified himself as one of the best left tackles in football.

Despite missing two games, Darrisaw was the star of a Vikings offensive line that has been revered as one of the top lines in the NFL, especially in pass protection.

Another cornerstone of this young Minnesota offense, Darrisaw becomes a free agent after next season.

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1 question for every position on the Vikings offense

The Minnesota Vikings are entering a pivotal offseason in 2024. Each position is under the microscope as we look at their biggest questions.

The 2023 season has been over for the Minnesota Vikings for just over four weeks and it’s about the time to really take a look and reflect on what was.

It wasn’t a great season for the Vikings, as they finished 7-10 but there were plenty of really enjoyable moments including the mania of Josh Dobbs.

2023 will be defined by both close games and injuries, as multiple Vikings starters missed a significant amount of time, including wide receiver Justin Jefferson and Kirk Cousins.

While things didn’t go their way in 2023, that doesn’t mean the future is any less bright. There are, however, multiple questions that need to be answered. Each position on the offensive side of the football is under the microscope as we take a look at the biggest question from each.

Vikings final Week 18 injury report analysis: 6 players out

Brian O’Neill is among six Vikings out on Sunday afternoon against the Lions

The Minnesota Vikings are set to take on their NFC North division rival Detroit Lions on Sunday afternoon in their likely final game of the season.

Ahead on Sunday’s game, the Vikings released their final injury report on Friday afternoon. Here is everything you need to know.

Vikings vs. Lions injury report sees one player added

Darrisaw joins the injury report for Sunday’s game against the Lions

The Minnesota Vikings added one player to the injury report for week 18 against the Detroit Lions. That player is left tackle Christian Darrisaw, who didn’t practice due to illness.

  • CB Byron Murphy Jr. (knee): Did not practice
  • WR Jalen Nailor (concussion): Did not practice
  • RT Brian O’Neill (ankle): Did not practice
  • DE Jaquelin Roy (ankle): Did not practice
  • LT Christian Darrisaw (illness): Did not practice
  • CB Mekhi Blackmon (shoulder): Limited
  • RG Ed Ingram (shoulder): Limited
  • S Theo Jackson (toe): Limited
  • TE Nick Muse (knee): Limited
  • S Harrison Smith (shoulder): Limited

The illness distinction is a difficult one as it can mean a lot of different things. Oftentimes, players with illness designations end up missing the game.

Another element at play is both Murphy and Nailor continuing to not practice. Don’t be surprised if the Vikings place Nailor on injured reserve on Friday and sign someone like Trishton Jackson or Lucky Jackson to the active roster to preserve them for the offseason program.

Friday’s injury report will tell us much more about who will and won’t play on Sunday afternoon.

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Two Vikings make the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl, six are alternates

Two players will represent the Minnesota Vikings at the 2024 Pro Bowl Games while six others were honored as alternates.

The NFL recently unveiled their 2024 NFL Pro Bowl Games with the following Minnesota Vikings making the cut:

  • OLB Danielle Hunter
  • LS Andrew DePaola

The Vikings also have six alternates, ranging from first to fourth at their respective positions.

The number of players may seem lower than usual, especially with wide receiver Justin Jefferson not being a part of the festivities due to injury. However, the Vikings are well-represented in that those who were selected, alternate or otherwise, certainly deserved it.

Here are the 2024 representatives (and alternates) for your Vikings.

Studs and duds from Vikings 33-10 loss vs. Packers

The Minnesota Vikings fell 33-10 to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night and the duds massively outnumbered the studs.

The Minnesota Vikings struggled mightily on Sunday night by losing to their NFC North rival Green Bay Packers by a score of 33-10.

It wasn’t just the score that was bad for the Vikings, the performances across the team were brutal.

The coaching was bad.

The offense was bad.

The defense was bad.

Special teams was relatively fine, especially the punt coverage.

When you have to go to the punt coverage unit to find a unit that played relative well, that’s not a good sign. With the loss, the Vikings no longer control their own destiny with the playoffs.

The studs and duds are not very positive on Sunday night and it’s stark at how poor things were.

4 offensive keys for Vikings in Week 15 vs. Bengals

To get back on track against the Cincinnati Bengals this Saturday, the Minnesota Vikings have to follow these four offensive keys to victory

The Minnesota Vikings are on the road again as they head to Paycor Stadium to face the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday at noon CST.

Minnesota’s offense has been in a rut as of late. In the last three weeks, they’ve had three of their five worst games offensively, according to expected points added. If the Vikings want a shot at the playoffs, they can’t afford to continue their current pace on that side of the ball. There won’t be many chances to win a game 3-0 in today’s NFL.

They’re going up against a Bengals team that just had one of their best games on defense as they held a solid Colts offense to less than 300 total yards.

Not to say that this isn’t still a flawed defense, it is. They are near the bottom of the league in both EPA per play and defensive success rate

After two-plus games of below-average quarterback play, Josh Dobbs has been replaced by veteran Nick Mullens now that he is off of injured reserve.

If the Vikings want to get back on track on the offensive side, here are four keys that they will have to follow.

4 Vikings offensive keys in Week 14 vs. Raiders

The Vikings offense is struggling and they will need to perform well to beat the Raiders on Sunday

After having a bye week to lick their wounds from the two previous defeats, the Minnesota Vikings are back in action, this time on the road. Minnesota takes on the Las Vegas Raiders in Allegiant Stadium at 3:05 p.m. CST.

The Vikings offense struggled mightily in their two losses just before the bye week. In weeks 11 and 12, the Vikings’ offense was tied for 29th in EPA/play with the Cleveland Browns and in front of only the Carolina Panthers and the New York Jets.

Since cutting bait with Josh McDaniels and that regime, the Raiders’ defense has come alive.

Minnesota is still firmly in the playoff picture as they currently hold the second wild-card spot and the sixth seed in the playoffs. But those two losses to the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears may loom large as these were chances to distance themselves from the pack.

Instead, they are fighting off three teams with the same 6-6 record as they hold, including the Green Bay Packers, for a shot at the playoffs. Every game matters and the Vikings need to capitalize on each game.

If the Vikings want to get back to their winning ways against the Raiders, the offense has to look a lot better than it did before the bye. To do that, they will need to follow these four keys to victory.

5 matchups to watch in Week 14 Vikings vs. Raiders

These matchups will be key to win for the Vikings to take home the victory

The push to earn a playoff spot begins on Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas for the Minnesota Vikings as they take on the Raiders.

As things currently sit, the Vikings control their own destiny to make the playoffs. They are currently the sixth seed and are in a win and in scenario.

The division is a different story for the Vikings. They are three games behind the Detroit Lions and need them to lose one more than the Vikings outside of their two matchups, both of which Minnesota needs to win.

As we head into the first game out of the bye, these five matchups will be critical for the Vikings to get a win.