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Kevin O’Connell Reveals Worrisome News on Vikings Injury Report
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- Kevin O’Connell Reveals Worrisome News on Vikings Injury Report
Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings will not play tomorrow, as the rest of the NFL opens the 2025 season with a flurry of Sunday games. Instead, we have to wait until Monday Night Football , where they will open the JJ McCarthy era under the national spotlight, in Chicago against the division-rival Bears .
McCarthy is healthy, both physically and mentally , after a full year of recovery from the meniscus he tore in his right knee last Summer, during the 2024 Vikings ' first preseason game. So is Justin Jefferson , who has not been on the injury report all week , after he missed most of training camp and all of the preseason due to a hamstring injury.
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Minnesota Vikings injury report still featuring key starters
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for other key starters on roster, a conversation that starts with JJ's All-Pro caliber left tackle, Christian Darrisaw — who suffered a season-ending knee injury of his own las year — has been in and out of practice this week.
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Then, there's veteran safety Harrison Smith , who came down with an unknown illness in late August that he has yet to fully recover from. After not practicing Wednesday or Thursday , Harry was on the Vikings status report for Friday's simulated walkthrough as "limited", presenting some hope that he'd be able to play Monday night.
Credit: Kimberly P. Mitchell / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
On Saturday, however, head coach Kevin O'Connell came to his final presser of the week with some bad news. Smith will enter the weekend as "doubtful". Mentally, the 36-year-old ready. Physically, KOC told reporters this afternoon, the 6x Pro Bowler isn't there yet.
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O'Connell also updated the media crowd on Christian Darrisaw, who will be listed as "questionable". Saturday marked the 26-year-old 's second-straight day of practicing in full. That makes three of four full practices this week for the Virginia Tech big man, who received a rest day on Thursday and did not practice.
Further down the depth chart, running back Zavier Scott has officially been ruled out, as has defensive lineman, Elijah Williams , two standouts from the preseason and throughout training camp.
#MINvsCHI final injury report
OUT: Zavier Scott and Elijah Williams
DOUBTFUL: Harrison Smith
QUESTIONABLE: Christian Darrisaw pic.twitter.com/7IbuPOIiDB— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 6, 2025
Monday Night Football injury expectations vs hopes…
If I was a betting man (I am), I'd put my money on Darrisaw playing on Monday. Obviously, that confidence is not in the same place regarding Harrison Smith. And that is really bad news for the Minnesota Vikings.
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While Smith may not be the secondary sniper he was in his prime, this might be the most important season opener of his career, when it comes to his importance to holding the Minnesota Vikings defense together.
Related: How Vikings QB JJ McCarthy Saved Himself from Pandemic-Induced Depression
O'Connell alluded to this during his press conference, but Smith's football brain is doing just fine. And that is what defensive coordinator Brian Flores needs in Chicago most, because this is one of the most inexperienced groups of defensive backs the Vikings have put together in some time.
Take Harrison Smith out and Minnesota will have no choice but to keep pressure on Caleb Williams all night, or likely pay the consequences down the field.
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