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The Minnesota Vikings continued their undefeated season with a victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, but the win came at a cost. The team's offensive line is now dealing with potential absences from two key contributors.
Left guard Donovan Jackson left the Week 4 game with a knee injury, while starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw suffered a concussion. What makes Darrisaw's situation particularly concerning is that he was reportedly cleared from the in-game concussion protocol, only to be removed again after symptoms persisted, according to head coach Kevin O'Connell.
O'Connell added that the team will continue to evaluate Darrisaw and hopes to provide an update on Monday. Given the unpredictable nature of concussions and the mandatory five-stage protocol for return, the Vikings could be facing a challenging situation.
Fortunately, Minnesota's bye week follows their Week 5 matchup with the New Orleans Saints, giving Darrisaw and Jackson extra time to recover. However, even a one-game absence could force the Vikings to rely on their depth, potentially turning to rookie tackle Caleb Tiernan.
Key Analysis
After Darrisaw exited Sunday's game, the Vikings inserted free-agent addition Ryan Van Demark at left tackle. Van Demark performed well as a run blocker but struggled in pass protection, allowing three pressures on 22 pass-blocking snaps and earning a 51.9 grade from Pro Football Focus. Given Van Demark's career-long struggles in pass protection, the Vikings might consider giving some of his snaps to Tiernan.
Tiernan, a 2026 third-round pick, was inactive for the first three games but made his NFL debut in Week 4, playing eight offensive snaps as an inline tight end rather than a tackle, per PFF. He impressed in his limited action, posting grades of 70.3 for run blocking and 75.7 for pass protection.
Drafted 97th overall in April, Tiernan is a 6-foot-7, 323-pound blocker who earned second-team All-Big Ten honors at left tackle. He recorded an 84.3 PFF pass-block grade in 2025 and allowed only nine sacks over five years at Northwestern, surrendering 13 pressures in each of his last two seasons compared to 26 total in 2023. While his college success doesn't guarantee professional stardom, the Vikings won't know what they have until they test him.
Looking ahead to Week 5, the Vikings face the 1-2 Saints before their bye. Despite their sub-.500 record, the Saints' pass rush has been formidable, earning a PFF grade of 74.4 (seventh-best in the league) heading into Week 4's Monday Night Football. Five New Orleans players have at least six pressures this season, led by Chase Young's team-high 12 (including five sacks).
If the Saints' pass rush continues its strong play, it will be a valuable test for Tiernan and Van Demark before the bye. Regardless of Darrisaw's status, the Vikings will gain clarity on whether they can trust their backup tackles or need to explore the trade market for help.
Minnesota has been bringing Tiernan along slowly, but if Darrisaw can't play in Week 5, they may have no choice but to throw the rookie into the fire.