Vikings work quickly to fill Darrisaw’s vital line spot as Robinson rushes to field – NFL

Photo: Canadian Press

EGAN, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings suffered a major setback when left tackle Christian Darrisaw tore ligaments in his left knee, sidelining one of the team’s most irreplaceable players. for the rest of the season.

This, of course, did not stop them from trying to find the submarine.

The Vikings got back to work on the field Wednesday after general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah acquired veteran Cam Robinson. in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars for a future Day 3 draft pick, showing he’s serious about not missing out on a 5-0 start despite two straight losses and a serious injury.

“When you lose a player like Christian Darrisaw, it’s devastating because he means so much to your team and your offense, but also just in terms of losing that veteran presence that we rely on so much,” coach Kevin O ‘Connell said. “So to find a player of Cam’s caliber in a season like Kwesi was able to do, I’m really looking forward to him being here.”

Robinson was busy getting a physical Wednesday and getting used to his new surroundings, leaving little time to learn the rules of the game and his teammates before Sunday night’s game against Indianapolis. O’Connell left no doubt that he would like Robinson to make the roster right away to play the Colts, a team he just faced a month ago against the Jaguars, or at least make some snaps if he doesn’t start the game. .

“There may be some nuances here and there in the run game or in defending play actions, but the catch point is where on those hard drops, back passes and things like that, you lock down the defensive end,” O’ Connell said. “Whether we say peaches or whatever, it really doesn’t matter.”

Robinson, when healthy, has been consistently rated as an above-average player throughout his career since the Jaguars selected him 34th overall out of Alabama in 2017. He will provide an upgrade over reliable veteran David Quessenberry, who replaced Darrisaw. for the second half of Minnesota’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams last week.

Another viable option would be to move left guard Blake Brandel into Darrisaw’s spot, where he started three games in 2022 when Darrisaw was in concussion protocol and Dalton Risner was on the cusp of making his season debut after injuring his back in training camp. Risner took over as the starting left guard last year. O’Connell coyly declined to say whether Brandel would remain in the stance or move to a tackle.

Selected 23rd overall in 2021 out of Virginia Tech, Darrisaw has slowly developed into one of the game’s best blindside blockers.

“He came in with a different attitude this year and you saw it on the field, he dominated guys,” center Garrett Bradbury said. “We didn’t blink about the left side. We could do whatever we needed there and knew it was tied down. It’s a testament to the type of player he is, the work he put in in the offseason and the mentality he came into this year with. I know he will take the same approach in this rehab and come back better than ever.”

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