No Darrisaw or Dirty Harry Today?
With a chance to clinch the NFC North with a win or tie Sunday afternoon in Detroit, the Minnesota Vikings may have to do it without left tackle Christian Darrisaw and safety Harrison Smith. .Darrison (concussion) and Smith (neck) are both listed as questionable, but Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune reported late Saturday night that neither will start the game. Instead, Goessling says Ben Brandel will make his third straight start at left tackle while Josh Mettellus will start for Smith.
According to Pro Football Focus, Brandel struggled against the Patriots with a 46.8 run-blocking grade and a 62.9 score when pass blocking. He was much better against the Jets, scoring a 88.4 when run blocking and a 72.6 pass-blocking score. He also had a strong performance when he replaced Darrisaw in Minnesota's Week 10 win over Buffalo.
Darrisaw suffered a concussion against Buffalo and then suffered another one the next week against the Cowboys. He hasn't played since but he did clear the concussion protocol this week.
"Christian Darrisaw has cleared the concussion protocol. He'll go into the game with a questionable tag and we're just going to keep working through what we think is best for Christian and communicating with him for the weekend," said head coach Kevin O'Connell on Friday.
Smith missed practice on Wednesday with an illness before a neck injury that he suffered against the Jets flared up.
"We're just working through kind of a neck thing that he had lingering from the game that just kind of acted up throughout the week, but he'll be questionable and we'll see how he feels coming off a good work day today, which he was limited," O'Connell said Friday.
https://www.si.com/fannation/bringmethesports/vikings/report-vikings-not-starting-christian-darrisaw-or-harrison-smith
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
I'd feel a lot better about this game having these playmakers out there today. Damn.
@"purplefaithful" said: I'd feel a lot better about this game having these playmakers out there today. Damn.
Yep. Makes things tougher for sure.
Definitely will miss Smith and Darrisaw, but the Vikings need to start gearing up for the playoffs. The team that wins the Super Bowl is rarely the best team. But it's almost always the hottest and healthiest. So be that.
Last time Mettellus started he was highest graded player on our defense. And Brandel has been solid as well. He's going to have his hands full with Hutchinson today, so I expect us to roll some protection his way.
Both will be missed but they have to think about Darrisaw long-term.
Bradbury is out too
Who the F is “Darrison”
Isnt proofreading part of your job as a writer? Maybee I’ve rong.
@"1VikesFan" said: Bradbury is out too2/5 of the starting OL out on the road - that's a tough one to overcome.
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