Live: Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw will miss season opener vs. the Bears

CHICAGO The Vikings kick off their 2025 season tonight at Soldier Field in Chicago, where quarterback J.J.

McCarthy will make his NFL debut in the stadium where he saw his first game at age 4.

Hell face Bears QB Caleb Williams, the No.

1 overall pick in the 2024 draft who went nine spots ahead of McCarthy.

Minnesota Star Tribune reporters Ben Goessling, Andrew Krammer, Emily Leiker and La Velle E.

Neal III and photographer Carlos Gonzalez are at Soldier Field, providing live updates and analysis below.

Kickoff: 7:15 p.m.

TV: ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 Line: Vikings by 112 Ben Goesslings preview and prediction Read our pregame Q&A Neal: Five story lines to watch tonight S coggins: McCarthy returns home for NFL debut Follow live updates and analysis below: 6:25 p.m.

- Keeping eye out for purple With about an hour to kickoff, Soldier Field is still in the early process of filling up, but there is a good smattering of purple in the stands and down on the field.

Well see what it looks like closer to game time.

Emily Leiker 6:20 p.m.

- Homecoming for J.J.

McCarthy I knew J.J.

McCarthy grew up in suburban Chicago but knew nothing about his familys fandom of the Bears until a tipster told me the story about J.J.s dad taking him to his first NFL game in 2007 and that the Vikings were the opponent that day.

What are the odds? I contacted the Vikings to ask McCarthy if it would be OK for me to talk to his dad Jim to learn more about that story and hear his emotions leading up to his sons NFL debut in his hometown.

McCarthy gave the green light, and his dad, as one can imagine, was incredibly proud and excited for this moment.

Jim texted me a photo of 4-year-old J.J.

wearing his Brian Urlacher jersey to the game.

He had a foam Bears claw on his hand.

Eighteen years later, J.J.

will make his NFL debut against the Bears tonight.

His dad said it best last week: Surreal.

Vikings Vikings Vikings Vikings Chip Scoggins 6:05 p.m.

- Soldier Field turf a question mark The oft-questionable grass at Soldier Field was re-sodded last week, after the stadium hosted five concerts over Labor Day weekend, and the quality of the surface is worth watching tonight.

There are visible seams on the turf around the 10-yard line near the Vikings bench, and near the Bears logo at midfield.

Well ask Kevin OConnell afterward if the playing surface contributed to the decision to sit Christian Darrisaw tonight.

Ben Goessling 5:53 p.m.

- Christian Darrisaw inactive vs.

Bears Quarterback J.J.

McCarthy will not have his top blindside blocker for his first NFL start.

Left tackle Christian Darrisaw is officially inactive.

Offensive tackle Justin Skule is expected to start against the Bears.

Darrisaw, who is about 1012 months removed from two torn ligaments in his left knee, was listed questionable entering the game.

He went through a roughly 30-minute workout at Soldier Field under the watch of offensive line coach Chris Kuper and a member of the teams training staff.

He wore a bulky brace on his left knee while practicing a range of pass-blocking sets.

After a full practice last week, Darrisaw said he would need both the medical staffs clearance and full confidence in his leg to return to the field.

Theyre choosing to wait until at least next Sunday, when the Vikings host the Falcons at U.S.

Bank Stadium.

Its worth noting that the often-questionable grass at Soldier Field was recently replaced.

The Vikings defense will also be missing a key member of the secondary.

Safety Harrison Smith was ruled out on Sunday and he did not travel with the team due to a personal health matter.

Smith, officially listed with an illness, has been dealing with the issue since at least Aug.

11.

He returned to practice last week, but coach Kevin OConnell said Smith needs more time to get back into form.

The Bears defense is down three key contributors in cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon, as well as top linebacker T.J.

Edwards.

Johnson went through a pregame warmup but is officially inactive.

Vikings inactives: Darrisaw (knee), Smith (illness), DL Elijah Williams (hamstring), RB Zavier Scott (ankle), G Joe Huber Bears inactives: CB Jaylon Johnson (calf/groin), CB Kyler Gordon (hamstring), QB Case Keenum, RB Roschon Johnson, LB T.J.

Edwards (hamstring), OT Kiran Amegadjie and DT Shemar Turner -Andrew Krammer.

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