EAGAN, Minn. — Left tackle Christian Darrisaw and right guard Will Fries, both of whom have been rehabbing injuries, will open training camp without injury designations, Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell and General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah confirmed Tuesday.

Darrisaw suffered a torn ACL and MCL against the Rams in Week 8 last season. Fries, who joined the Vikings this spring as a free agent, fractured his right tibia during his Week 5 start for the Colts.

After explaining that rookies Chaz Chambliss and Gavin Bartholomew will enter training camp on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, O'Connell noted Darrisaw, Fries and wide receiver Rondale Moore are ready for at least partial participation.

"I want to highlight the work they put in this summer to put themselves in a position to be out on the grass practicing, all in different capacities," O'Connell said. "We are very pleased with where those guys are at and, you know, their timelines to fully returning to daily participation."

Darrisaw took part during individual periods of Minnesota's first minicamp practice last month but not in the second two. O'Connell said the tackle will likely participate in individual drills to start out and progress from there.

The Vikings won't practice in pads until Monday, July 28; O'Connell said Darrisaw will "work into some of the combination periods, working across from some of our defensive players."

From there, he hopes to get Darrisaw involved in team periods.

"When that happens, the timeline will all be predicated on, basically we have a plan in place, but we have to be [prepared] to adapt and adjust based upon how he's responding," O'Connell said, "but based upon how he's attacked this whole process, which, once again, I cannot give him any more credit. Hopefully I've emphasized that enough, because he has been phenomenal — his presence in the building every day — and this is all part of the plan that was set in motion a long time ago."

While Darrisaw will ease back in a little slower, Fries is nearly ready for full-go.

O'Connell explained Fries has been fully cleared medically; now, it's just "a matter of ramping him up football-wise" as a newcomer to Minnesota's offensive system.

"Then he'll assume, hopefully, a full allotment of reps here," O'Connell said.

Positive news for the timetables of Darrisaw and Fries has an impact on the Vikings entire team — and certainly on J.J. McCarthy, who's readying for his first season as Minnesota's starting quarterback.

The 22-year-old will only benefit from an offensive line boasting consistency and experience out of the gate. That includes Darrisaw and Fries returning from injury, Ryan Kelly bringing vet know-how from Indy and Brian O'Neill continuing to be an anchor in the position room and on the line at right tackle.

"J.J. has been in the building watching those guys, specifically Christian and Will, throughout the offseason," O'Connell said. "And then going back to having a guy like Ryan Kelly at the center position for a young quarterback is [invaluable] between the whistles, between the snaps.

"You can't have a more valuable piece for J.J. in that huddle than Ryan Kelly, who really has been in all kinds of different offensive variations, where he's had anywhere from, you know, total control at the line of scrimmage to Philip Rivers behind him as quarterback," O'Connell continued. "It's really one of those things where, first and foremost, getting that continuity [is crucial]. They left off in a great place in the spring, but now we get the real reps against maybe the most difficult defense to practice against on a daily basis in the NFL.

"And then having Brian O'Neill out there, one of our true beacons of leadership, pillars of leadership, every single day. Setting the standard," O'Connell added. "Brian O'Neill's name and face pops in my mind pretty quickly for helping me become the coach I am, and hopefully he feels like we've helped him, as well. But we lean on these guys."

The Vikings will evaluate competition at left guard between returner Blake Brandel and 2025 first-round draft pick Donovan Jackson. Brandel worked at right guard in place of Fries, and Jackson lined up at left guard with the first group during the offseason program.

The Vikings are closer to seeing their plan for the offensive line unfurl.

"Any quarterback, knowing how difficult it is with the type of fronts you're going to see week-in and week-out in the NFL, there's a reason why we went and got some of those guys to pair with the players we feel very, very strongly about being our core to make up what we think is going to be a pretty strong unit," O'Connell said. "But that all has to be solidified. They're just names on a sheet of paper, and we've got to make it come to life."

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