It wasn't pretty, but the Minnesota Vikings ended their trip overseas for back-to-back games with a 21-17 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Down three offensive line starters, Carson Wentz was still hit more than is ideal, but overall, the makeshift line held it together far better than expected against a tough Browns' defensive line.
But as the fourth quarter got going, a noted shift in who was on the field came. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw was out, initially replaced by Walter Rouse. Then, Justin Skule, who started the game in place of an injured Brian O'Neill at right tackle, swapped spots with Rouse.
Was Darrisaw injured? What was going on?
Multiple Vikings beat reporters then revealed Darrisaw had reached his snap limit for the game, as he works his way back from a torn ACL. He missed the first two games of the season as he apparently completed that recovery, so Sunday's "plan" came out of nowhere.
The #Vikings flipped their tackles, with Justin Skule at left tackle and Walter Rouse on the right side. Christian Darrisaw's exit from the game was planned, the Vikings say; he'd reached his snap limit for the day as he returns from his torn ACL.
— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) October 5, 2025
No injury for Vikings LT Christian Darrisaw, per the Vikings. Part of his plan as he rounds back into shape from his ACL/MCL tear. At his snap limit.
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) October 5, 2025
The Vikings had just 38 offensive snaps through three quarters, and they were trailing going into the fourth quarter.
If Darrisaw was on a snap count, after he played all 76 offensive snaps against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4, it seemingly could have been managed better throughout the game so he could be available when it mattered the most.
Kevin O'Connell sounded less than thrilled with the Week 5 plan for Minnesota Vikings LT Christian Darrisaw
After the game, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell addressed multiple injury situations, and he addressed the situation with Darrisaw before anyone could've been asked.
"Christian Darrisaw was part of a plan. We knew at some point, Christian, based upon the high snap count last week, we wanted to be smart with CD. [It] didn't make it any easier, as far as having to navigate the end of the game there without one of the best left tackles in football."
O'Connell's facial expression, at about the two-minute mark of the postgame press conference, says it all regarding how he felt about having to "navigate the end of the game" without Darrisaw.
LIVE: Head Coach Kevin O’Connell talks to the media following today’s 21-17 win over the Browns https://t.co/Bsb4ffp894
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 5, 2025
O'Connell then oddly credited Darrisaw's willingness to "ramp up", as if it was in his hands not to finish Sunday's game. Someone, presumably someone on the medical staff, told Darrisaw he was done for the day. Any protest would have fallen on deaf ears.
O'Connell was surely aware of the plan regarding the number of snaps Darrisaw would play on Sunday. But he didn't have to like it, and at minimum, it seems those who were tracking the snap count should have communicated what was going on better than they did.
Why Darrisaw was on a snap count at all, in his third game back with a bye week now coming, is a different question.