The 2024 NFL season is approaching the midseason point with plenty of surprises already in the bag – and many more sure to materialize.

Week 8 could be ripe for some unexpected results, as several home teams are facing long odds to secure a win. The underdogs are surely hoping that the Los Angeles Rams might set the tone for the week with their upset victory Thursday night against the Minnesota Vikings. And as the trade deadline also draws near – and with several teams forging along with suboptimal backup quarterback plans – the results from this weekend could prompt some difficult discussions.

Here are the bold predictions from USA TODAY Sports’ NFL staff for Week 8:

Broncos pitch NFL season’s first shutout against Panthers

Things have really gone sideways for both of these franchises since their Super Bowl 50 showdown. But an already trying campaign for the Panthers might hit a nadir if this prediction comes to fruition. The matchup itself is plenty imposing, as the Broncos give up league lows of 4.4 yards per play and 5.9 passing yards per attempt. That doesn’t bode well for a Panthers attack that is far from a model of efficiency as it subs in benched former No. 1 pick Bryce Young for Andy Dalton, who was injured in a car accident this week.

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With Carolina generating just seven points last week against a suspect Washington Commanders defense, it’s clear that Young will need major contributions from wide receiver Diontae Johnson – who on Sunday bemoaned that he ‘can’t play every position on the field and make every play’ – and running back Chuba Hubbard. Maybe an explosive play here or there can help avoid a shutout or other embarrassment. But with Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Surtain II trending toward a return and a defense that ranks second in sacks (28) poised to tee off against Young, Carolina could face the kind of smackdown that will stir all sorts of questions about what changes need to be in store for this organization.

— Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz

The Commanders will impact the presidential election with an upset victory

The last home game for the D.C. football team before a presidential election used to be a surefire omen for what was about to go down in the Oval Office. From 1936 until 2012, the incumbent party candidate won the popular vote (and usually the White House) in each case when Washington won the final home game before the election – and the incumbent party lost the popular vote (and usually the White House) if Washington lost that pivotal home game. In two of the past three elections, though, the pattern didn’t hold up. Yet it’s also true that the ‘rule’ held up in 2020 after the franchise, under pressure from corporate sponsors, dropped its previous name because it disparaged Native Americans. So, with the clean slate, perhaps the Commanders will prove to continue the restoration of the ‘rule’… if a victory against the Bears on Sunday coincides with a Kamala Harris win on Nov. 4. Got all that? Hey, winning on Sunday for Washington might also have to come without star rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, nursing a rib injury. And a Washington win would spoil the homecoming for Chicago rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. So, it might be a serious upset. Then again, maybe there’s a higher purpose.

— Jarrett Bell

Jalen Hurts throws three interceptions

Hurts has thrown three picks twice in his career – the most recent being last season against the New York Jets in a game in which his season-long knee injury flared up the most. And Hurts has actually turned in three consecutive interception-less games after throwing four over the first trio of contests. But turnovers tend to come in bunches for an Eagles offense that can press when it finds its back against the wall. 

In 2024, Cincinnati’s defense has come up with six interceptions, and defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is still one of the best schemers on that side of the ball in the NFL. Cam Taylor-Britt, for his overall substandard play and voluminous trash talk, can still go up and get a pass. If the Bengals have aspirations of making a run this season, the defense will have to play much more inspired during the second half of the year. A turnover-filled performance against an Eagles offense that struggles to move the ball at times, especially in the first quarter, would be an auspicious start. 

— Chris Bumbaca

Patrick Mahomes reminds NFL world he’s still QB1 with season-high four TD passes

Patrick Mahomes is coming into Week 8 having thrown just six touchdowns and a surprising eight interceptions. Mahomes has heard all the noise that he’s having a down year by his standards. The three-time Super Bowl champion will respond by throwing four touchdown passes versus a downtrodden Las Vegas Raiders team. It’ll mark the first time he’s tossed four touchdowns in a single game since Week 7 of last season.

Mahomes’ stellar outing will lead Kansas City to a blowout win and improve the final remaining undefeated team to 7-0. A win will make the Chiefs the seventh reigning Super Bowl champion to win each of their first seven games. It will also give Mahomes 81 career regular-season wins, the third most ever by a quarterback in their first eight seasons.

— Tyler Dragon

LOS ANGELES — You’re probably living under a rock if you haven’t heard about this year’s World Series matchup.

The Dodgers vs. the Yankees. Two of the biggest brands and most historic franchises in sports. Los Angeles vs. New York. West Coast vs. East Coast. How can any sports fan not know what’s about to happen?

No matter who the opponent was, those playing in the World Series would understand the magnitude of playing on baseball’s biggest stage. But there’s an extra pizzazz to this year’s matchup. Even if the players are trying to treat it like another game, they know the significance of these two teams meeting for the Commissioner’s Trophy for the first time since 1981 and a record 12th time in history.

“This is like the mecca of baseball pretty much,” Yankees pitcher Tommy Kahnle told USA TODAY Sports. “To have the Dodgers for the Yankees in the World Series.”

Having played for both teams in recent years, Kahnle said he saw this matchup coming. They had been on a collision course over the past few years.

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“I just had a good feeling, and obviously being part of both franchises, it’s been pretty awesome,” he added.

The layoff from the teams last playing over the weekend has certainly helped all of it sink in. Dodgers pitcher Blake Treinen said he was talking to his wife about the matchup on Wednesday and joked it could be the most anticipated matchup in all of sports in the past decade.

“To be a part of one where you have the biggest market on the East Coast facing the biggest market on the West Coast, it’s pretty cool,” Treinen said. “This has got to be one of the greatest matchups that any sports fan could ask for, and to be a part of it, to play in it is even more incredible.”

It’s hard to even comprehend being involved in for some. Even though he won’t pitch in the series due to injury, Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow said the kid in him is “freaking out right now” seeing the team he grew up watching play in the World Series against New York. On the other side, Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe said his younger self wouldn’t be able to believe the situation he is in.

Seeing “Yankees vs. Dodgers” in any headline will garner plenty of interest in the United States, but this year comes with a greater opportunity for viewers, thanks to the Dodgers’ Japanese slugger Shohei Ohtani and pitcher Yoshinobo Yamamoto.

It may only be contested by two U.S. teams, but this matchup could literally be a ‘World’ Series.

“I just think that it’s going to be a global World Series. I still stand by the fact that more eyeballs could be watching this series than any other World Series,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. 

Whoever wins will certainly add to a storied legacy. The Yankees can tack on to their MLB-record 27 World Series wins, while the Dodgers will try to be the sixth team to have at least eight titles. 

“These are two powerhouse teams, the most historic franchises and probably the biggest teams in MLB right now,” said Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo. “This is a huge matchup and it’s gonna be a lot of fun for everybody involved.”

There will be plenty of theatrics, from Hollywood to Broadway. Two iconic teams playing in iconic stadiums with passionate fan bases. Whether it only last four games or goes all the way to seven, expect it to be electric when it’s time to play ball.

“It’s hard to really kind of put in the words exactly what it means, but I’m really looking forward to it,” said Dodgers infielder Max Muncy.

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The 2024 World Series is a heavyweight battle between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees, beginning Friday night at Dodger Stadium.

It will be the 12th World Series meeting between the two storied franchise, most recently in 1981 – after the Yankees won matchups in and 1977 and 1978.

MVPs Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are each playing in their first Fall Classic, this Dodgers run being Ohtani’s first career postseason appearance. Ohtani, who became the first player in history with 50 home runs and 50 steals in a single season, has three home runs and 10 RBI in 11 games so far in October.

The Yankees defeated the Kansas City Royals in the ALDS and Cleveland Guardians in the ALCS to reach their first World Series since 2009, while the Dodgers overcame the San Diego Padres in the NLDS and New York Mets in the NLCS.

Here’s how USA TODAY Sports’ MLB writers and editors see the World Series playing out:

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2024 World Series predictions: Expert picks

Bob Nightengale: Los Angeles Dodgers in 7 – The Dodgers simply are deeper, more versatile, and can beat you in so many ways. Once they knocked off the San Diego Padres in the Division Series, they were confident no one could possibly stop them.

Gabe Lacques: Dodgers in 6 – The lineup is too lethal, and their Johnny Wholestaff bullpen approach will hold up better than the Yankees’ crew

Steve Gardner: Dodgers in 7 – The Dodgers don’t have Freddie Freeman at 100% and can’t match the Yankees’ pitching depth. But they’ve been an offensive juggernaut throughout the playoffs, and that will be the deciding factor in a slugfest of a series capped by a Shohei Ohtani walk-off.

Jesse Yomtov: New York Yankees in 7 – The Dodgers have been walking a tightrope with their pitching for the past few weeks and will be exposed by Juan Soto and Aaron Judge in this Fall Classic. Los Angeles is going to have to watch another team celebrate on a title at Dodger Stadium for the third time in eight years.

Scott Boeck: Dodgers in 6 – In a Fall Classic that features six former MVPs, its Shohei Ohtani – baseball’s $700 million man – who leads the Dodgers to their first championship in a full season since 1988 in his first season in Hollywood.

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BOISE, Idaho — No chance he was walking away. Not after this journey, not after who and what he had become. 

Not for all the NIL money in the world.  

Not for the SEC or Big Ten, not for all those Texas schools that ignored him the last time around. Not for any blue blood football factory who believed they could swoop in with a financial bag of empty calories and change Ashton Jeanty by throwing seven-figure NIL deals at him.

There’s no chance he was turning his back on the unique and unkind grind that brought him to Boise State, and everything it meant. 

“I told those (schools), ‘You guys overlooked me three years ago. Now you want me?’” said Jeanty, Boise State’s star running back and Heisman Trophy candidate. “It just made me realize I made the right decision all along by coming here.”

A decision three years in the making that may just lead to another seminal moment from perennial giant-killer Boise State. A moment of unreachable NCAA records, the College Football Playoff, a Heisman race, and an unthinkable slowing of change – if only to pause and breathe it all in – in the ever-evolving world of college football.

A moment where player, program and purpose intertwine, where someone finally, mercifully, slows the raging gorge of get yours and resets the sport long enough to enjoy what was. For a season, at least.

Jeanty is chasing Barry Sanders’ near immortal NCAA single-season rushing record, and Boise State – the overachiever swimming upstream through two decades of massive college football change – is fighting up in weight class again.

Jeanty has 1,248 yards rushing in six games, and is 1,381 yards from breaking Sanders’ single season record of 2,628 yards. Jeanty has a minimum of seven games remaining, including Friday’s critical Mountain West Conference game at UNLV. 

If the Broncos win the MWC and earn a spot in the CFP as the highest-rated Group of Five conference champion, Jeanty will have a minimum of eight more games to break the record Sanders set in 11 games in 1988. And Boise State, which lost at current No. 1 Oregon by three points in Week 2 – the Ducks needed a kick return for a touchdown, a punt return for a touchdown, and a last-second field goal – might just be good enough to win games (plural) in the CFP.

That’s the surface headline. The underlying story of a player and a journey, and his place in a program, runs much deeper. 

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Where you are is where you should be

The day after the MWC championship game last December, mere hours after Spencer Danielson guided Boise State through a load of turmoil and won a championship three weeks after the firing of coach Andy Avalos, the reality of today’s college football arrived front and center. 

Danielson was officially named head coach at Boise State, and the poaching from power conference schools had begun.

Guess who was at the top of the list? The guy who ran for 153 yards and a touchdown a day earlier, and who ran for 1,357 yards in his second season at Boise State. 

Now everyone knew who Ashton Jeanty was. And everyone wanted him. 

”The whole time, Ash kept saying to me, ‘I want to be here,’” Danielson said. “I had so many people calling me saying, ‘Hey, Spencer, just a heads up, a bunch of schools are coming for Ash.’ They were just coming and coming, and me and Ash didn’t have one more conversation about it.”

A day after a loss to UCLA in the LA Bowl, with schools still circling the Boise State program and trying to sign Jeanty and more than 12 other starters, Danielson said, the Broncos began offseason workouts. 

There at 6 a.m., on the icy blue turf in sub-freezing temperatures, was Jeanty. First player on the field, and leading the squad — ironically, through a tug of war workout.

“He was crushing everyone,” said Boise State linebacker Andrew Simpson. “There was never any doubt he was staying.”

But that didn’t stop cash offers coming from all over the Power Four landscape. It’s an NCAA violation for coaching staffs to contact players who haven’t entered the transfer portal.

Jeanty never entered the portal, nor did any of the other players Danielson says were illegally contacted by Power Four schools.

“I called quite a few coaches, and told them I knew what they were doing, and it was illegal,” Danielson said. “Not surprising, it turned into the blame game. ‘Oh, I didn’t know. Let me look into it.’ Well, I’m protective, and we’re not taking this sitting down.”

Why would he? This is the problem with today’s college football: Group of Five conferences have become feeder teams for the Power Four. 

The Group of Five does the heavy lifting, and the Power Four reaps the benefits. That’s why Danielson is so adamant about protecting his players — but also doing so by building a program they don’t want to leave. 

You’re not turning down hundreds of thousands of dollars – or in Jeanty’s case, more than a million – if you don’t feel like where you are is where you should be.  

“There’s more to life than money,” Jeanty said. “This is my home now. I want to leave a legacy.”    

Boise State is more than one player, or a group of players. It’s a unique DNA bubble built and sustained over nearly half a century by players from all corners, all the way back to the days of junior college football played in the shadows of the bucolic Boise Front Range.

It’s current players like safety Alex Teubner, who grew up in the small beachside town of Seaside, Oregon, where it had been two decades since a high school player even walked on at an Bowl Subdivision school, much less played. 

Teubner had zero scholarship offers coming out of high school, and no walk-on invites. His high school coach knew a staffer at Boise State and asked for an opportunity, and Teubner showed up five years ago on the first day of fall camp and didn’t know how to practice. 

Now he’s a team captain and an All-MWC safety.

It’s guard Ben Dooley, an all-state wrestler in Nevada who showed up in Boise six years ago, worked through various injuries and is having his best season yet in his sixth year of eligibility. 

It’s edge Ahmed Hassanein, the first FBS player from Egypt, whose older brother became a guardian of sorts in 2019 and brought Ahmed to California ― where he played football for the first time as a sophomore in high school. Five years later, Hassanein has had a sack in 14 of the last 16 of Boise State’s games, and leads a defense that’s currently No. 1 in the nation in sacks (29). 

It’s former Broncos coach Dirk Koetter (now the offensive coordinator), who admits he never should’ve left Boise for a bigger college job so many years ago. Bigger isn’t necessarily better.

It’s former Broncos stars Matt Miller (wide receivers coach) and Jabril Frazier (edge coach), who never got a chance to experience playoff postseason. 

It’s co-offensive coordinator Nate Potter, who arrived as a grayshirt in 2007, a year after the greatest postseason upset in the modern era: Boise State’s 43-42 victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, the game that launched a thousand dreams on the blue turf. Potter developed into an All-American, had a cup of coffee in the NFL and was pulled right back to Boise in 2014 as a quality control coach.  

This place burrows deep into the soul, a transcendent time for those who choose to invest.

“If you pour into this program,’ Dooley said, ‘It will pour into you.”

‘It was all meant to be’

Midway through fall camp, and with Danielson sensing a talented team ready for a big season, Jeanty showed up at his office in a serious mood with a humble request. 

He wanted to be baptized. And he wanted Danielson to officiate.

The long, twisted, and at times tumultuous, road that led Jeanty to Boise brought him here for a reason. The transient life of an Army family that began in Florida, and included two stops in Virginia, then to Naples, Italy, and finally to Texas, shaped Jeanty’s young life. 

Playing varsity football in Europe when he was 14. Taking 20-hour bus rides to play games against other high schools on other American bases, once from Naples to Switzerland and soaking in the moving, almost surreal scenery of driving through the Swiss Alps. 

Playing in Germany and Brussels and Spain, and desperately trying (and failing) to speak fluent Italian before eventually settling for enough to just get by. Then finally convincing his father, Harry, that the family had to return to the states if he had any chance to play college football.

Only to make his mark with one of the greatest single seasons in Texas high school football history — and no FBS coach in the state cared. Not one scholarship offer.

There had to be a reason, he told Danielson, his journey found its way to Boise. When Harry and his wife, Pamela, dropped off their son three years ago, Harry told Ashton, “What is for you, is for you.”

Translation: there’s a plan for everyone.

“It was very emotional,” Harry Jeanty said. “I’m pretty sure he saw me crying.”

Three years later, Ashton was standing on a stage at Capital Christian Church with Danielson, who couldn’t stop crying. More than 50 of his teammates were there among more than 1,000 in the sanctuary, and his family on live stream.

“Never been more nervous,” Jeanty said. “But once I got in the water, it all went away. You come out of that water a new man. Best decision I ever made.”

A week later and just before the season, a group of players showed up at Danielson’s office and asked to be baptized. “About 15-20 of them,” Danielson said. 

So he and the players walked out of his office, down the steps of Albertson’s Stadium, through the famed blue turf and across the street to the Boise River — and left it all there.

“Phenomenal,” Jeanty said. “This team, this place. It was all meant to be.” 

Chasing Barry Sanders

Jeanty swipes open his phone and pulls up the YouTube app, and it’s easy to see what everyone is saying. 

Not only is he chasing college football immortality in Barry Sanders, he darn near looks and plays just like him. It’s almost blasphemous to even think it. 

Yet there they are ― and son of a gun if they’re not cut from the same cloth. Size, speed, vision, and of course, jaw-dropping highlights. 

Jeanty squats 600 pounds, and benches nearly 400 pounds. He has hit speeds of 21-22 miles per hour on game days this season, and the strength and acceleration, balance and control, and hop-step and jump looks just like You Know Who.

Get this: Jeanty has 914 yards rushing after contact this season, which is more total rushing yards than every running back in college football except Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson. 

Jeanty is averaging nearly 10 yards per carry, and seven yards – seven yards – after contact.

“If you watch the play from the back angle, with the defense’s butts to the camera, you can’t see him,’ said Boise State running backs coach James Montgomery. ‘That’s why he breaks so many tackles. His footwork is so good, getting to his spots. He pops out of there, and the next thing you know, you’ve got a real dude coming at you, running through your face. He plays gritty, plays with a chip on his shoulder every play.

‘The bright lights come on, and he shows you exactly what it’s about.’

Building the legacy

Earlier this week, Jeanty announced, in partnership with Boise State Athletics, the launching of a football scholarship to support future Broncos student athletes. 

It’s his way, he says, to leave a legacy off the field before his playing career is complete. 

More than 1,600 miles away in Frisco, Texas, Harry Jeanty heard about his son’s scholarship fund. He and Pamela held hands and cried. 

“Dropping him at Boise, and handing him over to the staff there,” Harry says, his voice trailing and hesitating. 

He’s laughing now, or maybe he’s crying again. Or both. 

“We knew we couldn’t wait to see what he was going to be,” Harry continued. “He keeps amazing us every single day.”

(This story has been updated with new information).

South Florida men’s basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim died on Thursday, as originally reported by the Tampa Bay Times and confirmed by the university.

Abdur-Rahim, 43, was about to enter his second year with the Bulls. According to the Tampa Bay Times, he was battling an undisclosed illness. Abdur-Rahim is the younger brother of NBA star Shareef Abdur-Rahim and was considered a rising star in coaching college basketball.

Per a news release from South Florida, Abdur-Rahim was undergoing a medical procedure at a Tampa-area hospital when he died due to complications that arose during the procedure.

‘All of us with South Florida Athletics are grieving with the loved ones of Coach Abdur-Rahim,’ said USF athletic director Michael Kelly in a statement. ‘He was authentic, driven, and his infectious personality captivated all of Bulls Nation. Coach Abdur-Rahim leaves a lasting impact on our student-athletes, the University, and the community. We are supporting those closest to him, including his family, team, and athletics staff, to ensure they have the resources they need to deal with this tremendous loss.’

Said USF president Rhea Law:

‘In a very short time, Coach Abdur-Rahim made an indelible impact on the University of South Florida. In his first season as our head coach, he brought an unmatched enthusiasm, achieved unprecedented success and helped generate unforgettable memories for Bulls Nation. Throughout my time working with Coach Abdur-Rahim, I was continually inspired by his leadership, and truly admired his sincere approach to connecting with our entire student body. His influence on our student-athletes, coaching staff and the university community will live on forever.’

AAC commissioner Tim Pernetti also issued a statement after news of Abdur-Rahim’s passing. Said Pernetti, in part:

‘We are devastated to hear of the tragic passing of Amir Abdur-Rahim. In only five years as a head coach, Amir established himself as one of the best in college basketball, winning championships in two conferences and taking both South Florida and Kennesaw State to unprecedented levels of success.

‘More impressively, he won the right way, with class and grace, and was a true leader among his colleagues and student-athletes. He embodied the greater mission of education through athletics in every way.’

In his first season with the Bulls during the 2023-24 college basketball season, they went 25-8 and won the American Athletic Conference regular-season title for the first time. However, USF did not make it to the NCAA Tournament. Before taking the job with USF, Abdur-Rahim earned acclaim across college basketball for turning around the Kennesaw State basketball program.

The Owls went just 1-28 in his first season, but he helped the team improve to 5-19 in 2020-21, 13-18 in 2021-22 and 26-9 in 2022-23, a season in which they made the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Following the tournament berth, Abdur-Rahim was hired as the USF coach on March 29, 2023.

No, Shohei Ohtani is not going to pitch in the World Series.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Thursday that there was ‘no possibility’ the likely 2024 NL MVP will take the mound against the New York Yankees in the Fall Classic.

Recovering from elbow surgery last fall, Ohtani was never expected to pitch in 2024 but his return kept being floated in the media as the Dodgers approached October, requiring Roberts and others to speak vaguely about the matter.

But on the eve of the World Series, Roberts laughed at the inquiry – after a reporter joked that it was his ‘turn to ask the annoying question.’

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Said Roberts: ‘There is no possibility (of him pitching). None whatsoever. Thank you for asking.’

Ohtani, 30, is expected to get back to pitching in 2025, the second season of his 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers. He was seen throwing off a mound in August for the first time since his surgery. He made 86 starts for the Angels from 2018-2023, posting a 3.01 ERA and finished fourth in 2022 AL Cy Young voting.

Nevada has forfeited its Mountain West Conference women’s volleyball match against San Jose State, two days after the game was moved over concerns Wolf Pack players wouldn’t show up.

Nevada played at Fresno State on Thursday night. Rather than going on to San Jose State for Saturday’s match, the school announced the contest is off ‘due to not having enough players to compete.’

‘Per Mountain West Conference policy, the match will be recorded as a conference loss for Nevada,’ the school said in its statement.

Nevada volleyball captain Sia Liilii told the Reno Gazette Journal on Oct. 15 that the team would not play San Jose State following reports there is a transgender player on the Spartans team. The woman has played at San Jose State in previous seasons, and there were no issues with her participation until right-wing activists became involved in recent months.

Nevada initially said the school could not legally forfeit the game against San Jose State, citing state law that prohibits discrimination based on “gender identity or expression.” But the school also said it would not punish players who did not want to play, leaving open the possibility the Wolf Pack would not have the minimum six players needed.

San Jose State has not commented on the gender of any player on its team and has said it complies with all NCAA and Mountain West Conference policies.

As of Monday, San Jose State was still planning to travel to Reno for Saturday’s game. But on Tuesday, the schools issued a joint statement saying the game was being moved to San Jose and the Mountain West had approved the switch. This was seen as a way for Nevada to avoid having to pay San Jose State’s travel costs for a game that was unlikely to happen and also spare Spartans players from possible abuse and harassment.

“The decision to move the location of the match has been made in the best interest of both programs and the well-being of the student-athletes, coaches, athletic staff and spectators,” the schools said in their statement. 

Nevada is the fifth school to forfeit a game against San Jose State this season, joining Southern Utah, Boise State, Wyoming and Utah State. All but Southern Utah are in the Mountain West. None of the other schools have given a specific reason, though it’s believed to be because of the possibility that San Jose State has a transgender player. The schools also have not explained why it’s an issue now when it wasn’t in past seasons.

Minnesota Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw needed to be helped off the field during Minnesota’s ‘Thursday Night Football’ clash with the Los Angeles Rams.

With 35 seconds left in the first half, the Vikings elected to call a run play from their own 3-yard line rather than taking a knee. During running back Aaron Jones’ 2-yard run, Darrisaw’s left leg got rolled up on by Rams rookie safety Jaylen McCollough, who was making the tackle.

Darrisaw fell to the turf after the play and immediately grabbed at his left knee. The Vikings’ medical personnel tended to the star tackle on the field before assisting him in a walk back to the locker room. Darrisaw appeared unable to put much weight on his left leg as he made his way off the field.

The Vikings ruled the left tackle out for the remainder of the game with a knee injury.

Christian Darrisaw injury updates

Darrisaw needed assistance from Minnesota’s medical personnel to walk back to the locker room after suffering a knee injury in the final seconds of the first half.

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The tackle took a hit to the outside of his left knee while he was engaged in a block on a run play from a Rams defender making a tackle. Offensive lineman David Quessenberry replaced Darrisaw on the final play of the first half, a quarterback kneel.

The Vikings declared Darrisaw out for the game with a knee injury.

After the game, head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed to reporters it was a left knee injury.

‘I don’t have an update for you at this time, but we’ll continue that evaluation here and then on into tomorrow,’ he said. ‘Keeping our fingers crossed that we get some positive news.’