Vikings rookie Christian Darrisaw has second surgery on groin injury Thursday

There's optimism the left tackle can recover quickly and be ready for Week 1, but Vikings coach Mike Zimmer wasn't certain of that prognosis.

August 13, 2021 at 5:18AM
Vikings offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw (71) watching practice last week. (Anthony Soufflé, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Vikings first-round pick Christian Darrisaw visited Dr. William Meyers in Philadelphia this week for his second surgery of the year on a groin injury that's bothered him since before the draft.

Meyers, a noted specialist often sought by athletes dealing with core muscle injuries, performed what a league source called a minor procedure on Thursday morning. There's optimism Darrisaw can recover quickly and be ready for Week 1, the source said.

But coach Mike Zimmer wasn't as certain.

"That's what the doctors said, but I don't know," Zimmer said, when asked about Darrisaw being ready for the Sept. 12 season opener in Cincinnati. "They tell me one thing and it ends up being something else. I don't know."

Darrisaw has yet to participate in training camp beyond individual offensive line drills, after seeing some non-padded work in the team's mandatory minicamp. He had already been ruled out by Zimmer for Saturday's preseason opener against Denver at U.S. Bank Stadium — and Zimmer's frustration with the situation was palpable.

"It was taken care of in January," he said, referring to Darrisaw's predraft surgery. "We didn't expect this."

Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak said that's meant more work for swing tackle Rashod Hill, who has been the team's starting left tackle throughout much of the offseason. Hill left practice after an injury Thursday, though he was able to stay on the field and watch the remainder of the Vikings' session with the Broncos.

Blake Brandel, one of the Vikings' sixth-round picks a year ago, stepped in for Hill with the first team at left tackle. It was a reminder of how tenuous the Vikings' tackle depth is, though Kubiak tried to strike an optimistic tone about Darrisaw.

"[Darrisaw] has been working his tail off," Kubiak said. "Cautious, taking it slow. When he's back, we'll take him. Otherwise, until then, getting a lot of good, extra work for Rashod."

Kubiak was asked how much time Darrisaw would need on the practice field to judge whether he's ready to start in the season opener against the Bengals.

"I wouldn't put a number on it," Kubiak said. "Any player coming off a major injury, they're all different. I'd say when he's been here, he's been really sharp and really dialed in. Mentally, I don't think it'll be a problem. We just got to get his physical reps and get his conditioning."

about the writers

Andrew Krammer

Reporter

Andrew Krammer covers the Vikings for the Star Tribune, entering his sixth NFL season. From the Metrodome to U.S. Bank Stadium, he's reported on everything from Case Keenum's Minneapolis Miracle, the offensive line's kangaroo court to Adrian Peterson's suspension.

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Ben Goessling

Sports reporter

Ben Goessling has covered the Vikings since 2012, first at the Pioneer Press and ESPN before becoming the Star Tribune's lead Vikings reporter in 2017. He was named one of the top NFL beat writers by the Pro Football Writers of America in 2024, after honors in the AP Sports Editors and National Headliner Awards contests in 2023.

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