The Minnesota Vikings have lost left tackle Christian Darrisaw, one of their top players and among the best at his position in the NFL, for the season because of a left knee injury, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Darrisaw suffered the injury late in the first half of the Vikings' 30-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night. Tests performed Friday in Minnesota revealed the necessity for season-ending surgery.

The team did not immediately confirm the news. Coach Kevin O'Connell is scheduled to speak with reporters later Friday. Veteran David Quessenberry replaced him Thursday night and would be the Vikings' likeliest option to fill the position for the duration of the season.

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Darrisaw, 25, has been the Vikings' starting left tackle since they made him the No. 23 pick of the 2021 draft. He has battled a series of injuries but performed well enough to merit a four-year contract extension worth up to $113 million.

Thursday night's injury occurred while Darrisaw was blocking with 35 seconds remaining in the first half. Rams safety Jaylen McCollough fell into the side of his left knee, and team medical officials helped him walk directly to the locker room as the Vikings finished out the half.

The Vikings had taken possession of the ball at their own 3-yard line, but they had all three of their timeouts. Rather than kneel down to close out the half, O'Connell said he wanted to see if the offense could potentially move into position for a score. The Rams also had a timeout, which would have required the Vikings to kneel twice within a narrow space between the line of scrimmage and the end zone.

"They had dime defense on the field," O'Connell said, "so I thought we could maybe pop a run. Don't know if we were necessarily targeted versus that group out there, which I think if we are, maybe that ball has got a chance to [move]. If we get off and rolling with the timeouts we had left at the time, get that first down, then there's a chance to maybe try to dial some stuff up and not give them any chance at doubling us up there with them starting out the second half."

Better Fried Food In South Dakota Than Minnesota or Iowa

Gallery Credit: Dave Roberts

Minnesota Vikings In The Super Bowl? Yep, I Can Remember All Four

It's that time of year, the time when everyone is talking about the NFL's upcoming Super Bowl.

It may be hard to believe, but there was a time when the Minnesota Vikings went to the Super Bowl.

And then they went again. And then again. And then again. Hey, we were one of the greatest teams of all time!

Unfortunately, it was the same time the Vikings lost the Super Bowl. And then again. And then again. And then again. Well, at least we must have been one of the second-best teams of all time!

For a whole lot of Vikings fans...you know, the ones who walk around with younger bones...the Vikings have never been to the Super Bowl.

Then there's the ol' dog that is me. I remember the first time... and the second... and the third... and the fourth.

Gallery Credit: Randy McDaniel

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