Vikings get the worst possible injury update on star tackle Christian Darrisaw

Losing on an awful referee decision hurts enough, but the five-win Minnesota Vikings can overcome that.

However, the Vikings' biggest loss on Thursday Night Football didn't come from the outcome of the game, but the injury suffered to star left tackle Christian Darrisaw. Head coach Kevin O'Connell surprisingly called a run play rather than a kneel-down to end the first half, leading to Darrisaw's injury.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Darrisaw requires season-ending knee surgery. Brutal.

When it rains, it pours, and the Vikings must now figure out the best plan moving forward without their star left tackle.

Vikings need to quickly find a solution at left tackle following Christian Darrisaw's injury

After signing a massive extension, Darrisaw made an outstanding start to the season, allowing just two sacks and 10 pressures in the opening seven games. He is also a tremendous asset to the Vikings' rushing attack, earning PFF's eighth-highest run-blocking grade through seven weeks.

The Vikings need to consider their options.

Backup David Quessenberry struggled to fill the void after entering the game. The Los Angeles Rams' defense went after him, with PFF crediting Quessenberry with two pressures and one hit allowed. He earned an awful 46.7 pass-blocking grade.

Whether it's through free agency or swinging a deal before the NFL trade deadline on November 5, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah may need to bring in another tackle in the near future. This Vikings team is far too talented to let one injury derail their season, no matter how good Darrisaw is.

That's easier said than done, of course. There aren't enough talented starting tackles to go around, and teams don't give them up easily.

Adofo-Mensah could turn to free agency for a short-term fix. Available veterans include Donovan Smith, Charles Leno, and David Bakhtiari. The latter has battled injury problems in recent years but has still played at an All-Pro level when healthy.

The Vikings get a mini-bye to assess their options before hosting the Indianapolis Colts in Week 9. In the meantime, Quessenberry is in line to cover for Darrisaw.

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