Vikings lose left tackle Christian Darrisaw to knee injury

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Minnesota Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw was walking with crutches Thursday night after suffering a left knee injury in the second quarter of his team’s 30-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Coach Kevin O’Connell said afterward that the team is “keeping our fingers crossed that we get some positive news” but otherwise wasn’t certain about the severity of Darrisaw’s injury.

Darrisaw, who has been having a Pro Bowl-caliber season, was blocking with 35 seconds remaining in the first half when Rams safety Jaylen McCollough fell into his left knee. Team medical officials helped Darrisaw walk directly to the locker room as the Vikings finished out the half. He was replaced by veteran David Quessenberry.

The Vikings had taken possession of the ball at their own 3-yard line, but they had all three of their timeouts. Rather than kneel on the ball to close out the half, O’Connell said he wanted to see if the offense could potentially move into position for a score. The Rams also had a timeout, which would have required the Vikings to kneel twice within a narrow space between the line of scrimmage and the end zone.

“They had dime defense on the field, so I thought we could maybe pop a run,” O’Connell said. “Don’t know if we were necessarily targeted versus that group out there, which I think if we are, maybe that ball’s got a chance to [move]. If we get off and rolling with the timeouts we had left at the time, get that first down, then there’s a chance to maybe try to dial some stuff up and not give them any chance at doubling us up there with them starting out the second half.”