Who do Vikings turn to at left tackle with Christian Darrisaw out?

As the Vikings processed last week’s 30-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, their worst fears were confirmed when they learned star left tackle Christian Darrisaw had suffered significant injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

It happened on a seemingly mundane run up the middle shortly before halftime. After veteran running back Aaron Jones took the handoff in the backfield, Darrisaw got rolled up on by a defender while still engaged in a block. He crumbled to the ground and had to be helped off the field by trainers.

Now the Vikings must figure out a way to move forward starting with Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium. A few players could fill in as they try to replace arguably the best player at his position.

Here is a tale of the tape:

David Quessenberry

Size: 6 feet, 5 inches; 310 pounds

Analysis: The biggest thing Quessenberry has going for him is his experience at left tackle. He has played in the NFL for the past decade and served as the primary swing tackle for the Vikings since being signed last season. The fact that the Vikings can turn to Quessenberry in a pinch is not insignificant. Not everybody can come in cold off the sideline and make an impact like Quessenberry did last week when Darrisaw went down. If he only had to play for a few weeks, Quessenberry makes sense as the next man up. It changes the calculus when considering Quessenberry will have to play for the next few months.

Walter Rouse

Size: 6 feet, 6 inches; 315 pounds

Analysis: There’s no doubt that Rouse looks the part of a left tackle. He’s a massive human being who put up impressive numbers in college. His lack of NFL experience is something that should be noted, however, as the Vikings shift things around up front. As he navigates life as a rookie, Rouse has been buried on the depth chart, which speaks to why he hasn’t even been active for a game. That should change this week as Rouse is expected to be active when the Vikings take on the Colts. Though he might have a higher ceiling than some of his peers, it’s hard to imagine Rouse jumping straight in the starting lineup anytime soon. Maybe the Vikings hand the keys over to him at some point down the road.

Blake Brandel

Size: 6 feet, 6 inches; 315 pounds

Analysis: This is probably the most likely scenario as Brandel provides a combination of experience and upside. He has held his own in the past when the Vikings have asked him to start at left tackle on short notice. He’s also at the stage in his career where he’s in the starting lineup on a weekly basis. This move would take some maneuvering as Brandel has started at left guard in every game this season. If he were to slide over to left tackle, that would leave a void at left guard. The natural replacement at that position would be Dalton Risner. The timing is perfect as Risner is expected to be activated from injured reserve this week.