The Minnesota Vikings played their season opener against the Chicago Bears without two key players. Safety Harrison Smith did not travel to the team to Chicago as he continues to deal with what was labeled as an illness, and left tackle Christian Darrisaw was inactive as he nears the end of his recovery from a torn ACL last season.
Darrisaw was especially missed protecting J.J. McCarthy's blindside against the Bears. His replacement, Justin Skule, allowed both sacks of McCarthy in the game, and according to Pro Football Focus, he allowed four of the five pressures Chicago registered on the Vikings' signal caller.
That isn't to say Smith was not missed, but adapting to his absence was easier. Safeties Theo Jackson and Josh Metellus played all 67 defensive snaps against the Bears. Jay Ward functioned as the third safety (25 defensive snaps) and posted the top overall (77.1) and coverage grade (72.8) on the Vikings' defense, according to PFF.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell offers injury updates on Harrison Smith and Christian Darrisaw
Amid a bunch of injury updates he offered on Wednesday, including a couple that aren't so great on a short week, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell had updates on Smith and Darrisaw.
"Harrison Smith, Christian Darrisaw, will both continue to ramp up their work", O'Connell said..."There was a game Monday night, but as we continue to progress forward they're a part of a daily mission to get back on the field."
Smith spoke to reporters in the locker room on Wednesday, and of course, his health was the No. 1 topic.
Reporters spoke briefly with Harrison Smith today. He described his personal health issue as "physical," and said he thinks his absence will be shorter than the 4-week minimum that would have been required if the Vikings had put him on IR. This week is "fluid," he said.
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) September 10, 2025
"I'm just trying to get my conditioning up," Smith said. "I'm going to go out there and see how much I can handle and go from there. I've already moved around, and I'm moving around well. It's just volume, conditioning, stuff like that."
The Vikings did not put Smith on IR on the day of roster cuts, which suggests they don't expect him to miss the four-game minimum that would have been required if they did so. Smith also addressed that when it was brought up on Wednesday.
"We're kind of fluid with if I'm ready to go or not, and if I am going to help the team or not," Smith said. "That all matters. But I expect to be back before, like you said, the four-week (mark)."
The Vikings did not practice on Wednesday, and it's unclear if Smith and/or Darrisaw would have participated in any capacity if they had. Thursday's practice report will provide some clarity about their availability for Sunday night against the Atlanta Falcons, one way or the other, ahead of Friday when official statuses for the game are declared.