Minnesota Vikings left guard Donovan Jackson likely will miss the rest of the regular season with a meniscus tear that will require surgery, coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw, meanwhile, is in the concussion protocol after both linemen went down during Sunday’s 15-10 win over the Miami Dolphins.
The twin blows hit the left side of Minnesota’s offensive line in the same afternoon, leaving the 4-0 Vikings to piece together protection for quarterback Kyler Murray with two new starters already forced into duty down the stretch against Miami.
What O’Connell Said About The Donovan Jackson Injury
Jackson’s injury is being treated as a season-ending situation, even without a formal injured reserve move yet announced. “It’s very, very unfortunate,” O’Connell said, according to Fox Sports. “Don’s gotten off to a great start.”
Darrisaw’s situation carries no firm timeline. He went down with a neck injury late in the second quarter Sunday, was cleared by an independent spotter and returned in the third quarter, only to be pulled again after showing concussion symptoms, according to the Star Tribune. O’Connell said he will update Darrisaw’s status throughout the week.
Who Replaces Jackson And Darrisaw
Joe Huber, a second-year player who made the team last season as an undrafted rookie out of Wisconsin, replaced Jackson, per ESPN. Ryan Van Demark, who signed with the Vikings as a free agent this year after three seasons with Buffalo, took over for Darrisaw. Both players already handled the left side in relief Sunday after the Dolphins sacked Murray four times and generated 14 quarterback pressures, Minnesota’s most in a game this season, according to Pro Football Focus figures cited by the Star Tribune.
The Vikings could get additional interior help soon: center/guard Michael Jurgens, who began the season on injured reserve, will have his 21-day practice window open this week, O’Connell said.
Jackson And Darrisaw’s Season Roles
Jackson, Minnesota’s first-round pick in 2025 at No. 24 overall out of Ohio State, started all 18 NFL games he has played, including all four this season. Through four games in 2026, he logged 183 offensive snaps with a 77.2 PFF pass-blocking grade, ranking seventh among guards, and allowed zero sacks and just two pressures, per PFF figures reported by Yahoo Sports.
Darrisaw, 27, a 2021 first-round pick, has started all four Vikings games this season after his availability was limited last year by a 2024 torn ACL and meniscus tear. He now has a history of three career concussions, including back-to-back episodes during the 2022 season that prompted him to upgrade to a higher-rated helmet, according to the Star Tribune. This marks his first concussion since that switch.
What’s Next For The Vikings
Minnesota plays at the New Orleans Saints this week before its Week 6 bye. O’Connell said he will provide updates on Darrisaw’s concussion protocol progress throughout the week, while Jackson’s path toward a likely injured reserve designation remains to be formalized.
Reporting from Yahoo Sports, FOX Sports, ESPN and Startribune contributed to this story.
