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Kevin Seifert, ESPN Staff Writer
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 injuries to the ACL and MCL in his left knee, coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed Friday.
Darrisaw suffered the injury late in the first half of the Vikings’ 30-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night. The Vikings placed him on injured reserve Friday afternoon and, in the corresponding move, activated tight end T.J. Hockenson to their 53-man roster from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
“He’s clearly one of our offensive pillars that we have leaned on a lot,” O’Connell said of Darrisaw, “and it’s going to be a significant loss. But we’ve all got to do a little bit more.”
Editor’s Picks
2 Related
Last week I felt as if I were on a long and lonesome highway, east of Omaha after all three of my bets failed to cash. First, Marvin Harrison Jr. left early with a concussion. Obviously, his health is what’s most important here, but it was still a bummer to lose a bet by the second quarter of a game. Then, the Detroit Lions did exactly what I thought they were going to do: utilize their running backs to dominate the Cowboys banged-up defensive line. That’s great, right? Actually, no. David Montgomery didn’t hit his mark of 10 receiving yards, and even though the game script worked out perfectly in our favor, CeeDee Lamb fell well short of his receiving line and didn’t find the end zone.
That brought me to 0-3 on the day. Some weeks it just seems like you’re running against the wind. Oh, and on top of that, my Lions lost potential DPOY Aidan Hutchinson to a brutal season-ending injury. I felt like a beautiful loser, because some weeks, you just can’t have it all. So, just like my guy Bob Seger, I was ready to turn the page on last week. (Quick note, my dad and his band opened a concert for Seger long before I was born, which I’ve always thought was cool.) So, from dad, Mr. Seger and myself, how about we all turn the page and look ahead to Week 7. If you’re a Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man like me, I hope you enjoy a new edition of props that pop! — Daniel Dopp
All odds as of publication time. For the latest odds, visit ESPN BET.
Quarterback props
0:47
Ladd McConkey’s fantasy outlook for Week 7
Explore Ladd McConkey’s fantasy numbers as he prepares for his Week 7 matchup against the Cardinals.
Justin Herbert OVER 249.5 passing yards & Ladd McConkey anytime touchdown (+950)
Loza: It’s my birthday so I’m celebrating with some spicy picks. Yes, Herbert is tethered to a low-volume passing offense, but he still has a canon. He also threw for 237 yards (without surrendering a single pick) against a stout Broncos’ defense. Pat Surtain II’s early exit certainly made Herbert’s job easier, but even a Surtain-less Denver Broncos squad is stiffer than the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona’s passing defense ranks either last or close to the bottom in nearly every metric including completion percentage, yards per attempt and completions of 10-plus yards allowed while also registering the seventh-fewest pressures.
Arizona Cardinals passing defense
| Comp pct | 72% (31st) |
| Yards per att | 8.1 (31st) |
| 10-yard comp | 61 (T-28th) |
| Pressures | 50 (26th) |
In a game with a spread of 2.5 there should be enough volleying to push Herbert to the over. Leaning on the team’s No. 1 WR is how he’ll best accomplish that task. McConkey leads all Bolts’ pass catchers in routes run, targets drawn, receptions and receiving yards. He found the end zone in Week 5 and nearly managed a second trip during the first quarter of Week 6. With red zone looks in back-to-back efforts and facing a Cardinals squad that has allowed the sixth-most scores to opposing WRs (8), McConkey should find six Sunday.
Running back props
1:06
Is Bijan Robinson hitting his stride in fantasy?
Tristan H. Cockcroft breaks down Bijan Robinson’s fantasy production in the Falcons’ win in Week 6.
It’s not too late to play the No. 1 fantasy game
Jordan Addison OVER 49.5 receiving yards (-120) 2 Related Loza: It has been a rocky start to Addison’s second year as a pro. He has exactly three catches in each of his three outings. Despite missing two games due to an ankle issue, the 22-year-old ranks second among the team’s WRs in looks. He struggled mightily against the Jets’ stout secondary back in Week 5 but will be fully rested and coming out of a bye. Addison figures to rebound into fantasy flex territory. The 5-0 Vikings will host a surging Lions squad for an NFC North showdown this Sunday. Detroit will be without star DE
Editor’s Picks
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Adam Teicher, ESPN Staff Writer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Rashee Rice had posterolateral corner surgery on his injured right knee, Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid said on Monday.
The timeframe for Rice’s return is similar to if he had reconstructive ACL surgery, Reid said. Ten to 12 months is generally considered a realistic return time after ACL surgery.
“It takes a while for that to come back,” Reid said. “He’ll get into his rehab and get rolling on that as we go here.”
Rice was injured in a Week 4 game against the Los Angeles Chargers when quarterback Patrick Mahomes accidentally collided with his knee while the two were chasing a fumble that followed an interception.
Rice entered the Week 4 games leading the NFL in receptions with 24. He was second in yards with 288.
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Jenna Laine, ESPN Staff Writer
TAMPA, Fla. — In advance of Hurricane Milton, the Buccaneers are leaving the Tampa area early this week and heading to New Orleans on Tuesday, ahead of their Week 6 game at the Saints.
The team was able to secure the necessary hotel rooms in New Orleans to avoid having to take another flight Saturday.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Milton has strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph over the southern Gulf of Mexico. Its exact track is still to be determined, but Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, has begun issuing mandatory evacuations for Zones A and B and all manufactured/mobile homes.
Milton could make landfall Wednesday in the area.
“We are preparing for the highest evacuations we have ever seen, most likely since 2017,” Kevin Guthrie, the Florida director of emergency management, said at a news conference. Forecasters have warned of a possible 8- to 12-foot storm surge in Tampa.
The area has already seen damage from Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend area with a Category 4 designation Sept. 26, with the storm’s sheer size impacting much of the state.
The last time the Buccaneers evacuated the area for a major hurricane was in 2022, when the team headed to Miami before Hurricane Ian. It also did so in advance of Hurricane Irma in 2017, chartering four planes to Charlotte, North Carolina.
Meanwhile, the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning canceled Monday night’s scheduled preseason finale against the Nashville Predators. The game initially was rescheduled from Sept. 27 due to Hurricane Helene, which caused extensive damage in the region.
The Lightning open the regular season at Carolina on Friday. There was no immediate word on whether the team would evacuate to Raleigh, North Carolina, ahead of the storm.
College sports are being impacted, too, with UCF in Orlando announcing all home athletic events Wednesday and Thursday have been canceled. That includes Wednesday’s volleyball match against Colorado, Thursday’s women’s soccer match against Arizona and the first day of the men’s tennis ITA Southeast Regional on Thursday.
The school said Saturday’s Big 12 home football game against Cincinnati is still scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff.
Coach Gus Malzahn said the Knights plan to practice Wednesday morning, before the storm’s effects are expected to arrive in the Orlando area.
“We’re trying to stay in our routine as best we can,” Malzahn said. “We’ll adjust with it. We’ll have a plan no matter what happens. We’ve been talking through that. I think the main thing planning-wise is making sure our players are taken care of, and all the people in our program.”
ESPN’s Adam Schefter and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
