Vikings Unexpectedly Had a Busy Tuesday
Jun 10, 2025; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw (71) practices during minicamp at the Minnesota Vikings Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings pressed the go-live button on mandatory minicamp Tuesday, and if folks were expecting a nothingburger, they witnessed the opposite.
The Vikings’ Tuesday turned out to be busy ordeal, and the news was pretty damn positive.
The Vikings weren’t bashful in their actions and words about revealing new information, as they prepare for a captivating regular season that is less than three months away.
It was a busy Tuesday, and here’s what happened.
Christian Darrisaw Is in the House
Vikings fans, until Tuesday, pondered whether left tackle Christian Darrisaw would be ready for the start of the 2025 campaign after the veteran offensive lineman blew out his knee last October.
Sep 19, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota offensive tackle C. Darrisaw (71) prepares to block against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports.
While there’s still a long way to go before determining Darrisaw’s return date, the man showed up mandatory minicamp — and participated as if the ACL tear never occurred.
It felt like a plot twist in a movie.
Vikings.com’s Craig Peters remarked on Darrisaw’s triumphant return: “Big Dog is getting back in action. Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw on Tuesday participated in individual drills as Minnesota opened its three-day minicamp. Those words are quite encouraging for the fifth-year pro in his return from a season-ending knee injury suffered in Week 8 last year (Oct. 24 at the Los Angeles Rams).”
“Darrisaw has started 46 of 48 regular-season games played, a run that began when he opened Minnesota’s thrilling overtime win at Carolina on Oct. 17, 2021. The 23rd overall selection of the 2021 NFL Draft was tracking at a Pro Bowl-caliber level when he suffered the injury just before halftime.”
A standard ACL recovery would plop Darrisaw back on the field in late August, coincidentally a couple of weeks before the start of the season. We shall see if the Vikings green-light the superstar lineman for Week 1.
Josh Oliver Sticks Around for the Long Haul
After some offseason chirps that insinuated tight end Josh Oliver could depart in 2026 free agency, the Vikings strangled the theory Tuesday by extending Oliver for three extra years.
