(ABC News) – Minnesota Vikings we lost the left struggle Christian DarrisavAccording to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, he is one of the best players of the season and among the best at his position in the NFL due to his left knee injury.

Darrisow was injured late in the first half of the Vikings game. 30-20 loss to Los Angeles Rams Thursday night. Tests performed Friday in Minnesota revealed the need for season-ending surgery.

The team did not immediately confirm the news. Coach Kevin O’Connell is scheduled to speak with reporters later Friday. Senior David Quessenberry He replaced him on Thursday night and will be the Vikings’ most likely option to fill the position throughout the season.

Darrisow, 25, becomes the Vikings’ starting left tackle since being selected 23rd overall in the 2021 draft. He battled a series of injuries but performed well enough to earn a four-year contract extension worth up to $113 million.

The injury Thursday night occurred while Darrisow was making a block with 35 seconds left in the first half. coach safety Jaylen McCollough He fell to the side of his left knee and was helped directly to the locker room by team medics as the Vikings ended the half.

The Vikings gained possession of the ball at their own 3-yard line but also called three timeouts. O’Connell said he wanted to see if the offense could potentially get into a scoring position rather than take a knee to close the half. The coaches also had a timeout, which would require the Vikings to take two knees in a tight area between the line of scrimmage and the end zone.

“They had a very good defense on the field,” O’Connell said, “so I thought maybe we could go on a run. I don’t know if we were necessarily targeted against that group there, if we were, maybe that ball has a chance (to move). Then we left it “If we go with the breaks, get him down first, then maybe we’ll have half a chance of trying to change things up and not give him a chance to double us starting in the second.”